It's now late August and the last of the season’s cherries are appearing in farmers markets and in supermarkets in Vancouver Canada, and in Fairbanks Alaska.
During a recent visit it was good to get a feed of fresh cherries. Prices ranged from Can$ 2.98 to $5.98 per pound.
Flavour was good, firmness was a bit down, and there was a little pitting—perhaps due to the longer storage thanks to a large crop.
The vendor did not know what varieties were on display. Light coloured cherries were labelled ‘Rainier’, but they could have been any of the late white varieties bred at Summerland in British Columbia.
Some stall holders were insisting that the dark cherries were Bing, even though they were not the shape normally associated with Bing.
This reminded me of a speaker at one of our cherry conferences from Chile who said that the dark cherries were labelled ‘Bing’ because that was what the market demanded.
Grow varieties that consumers want
It is reasonable to expect that in Australia, our customers (both domestic and export) are becoming more discerning in their choice of variety and in the qualities of each variety. If not, then our industry should assist in educating our buyers. Doing so would result in any varieties that are too soft, without good flavour, or with poor shelf life, not being grown in the future.
We need to produce cherries with the expectation that buyers will make a return purchase and continue to do so.
Weather frustrates US growers
Variable weather and changing climate continue to play havoc with fruit producers.
For example in Georgia USA, an unusually warm winter meant disaster for their peach crop, reducing it by 75% and raising prices. A lack of adequate chill, followed by a quick freeze, made it impossible for the 2017 crop to thrive.
Cherry producers in Australia understand that changing climate brings benefits to some growers and negatives to others. So remember that over time, changes occur naturally, and growers who adapt early should reap the benefit.
See this article in Tree Fruit Sept 2017
