World cherishes Tasmanian cherries, particularly Asian market

Tasmanian fruit is proving to be the cherry on top for international markets.

Coralie Marra, 28 from France, picks cherries at Reid Fruits in Huonville. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

GLOBAL markets can’t get enough of Tassie cherries with some selling for as much as $1 per fruit in Asian supermarkets.

Reid Fruits Managing Director Tim Reid said his company has enjoyed domestic and international success this season after a delayed start to summer.

EARLY CROPPING CHERRIES DELIGHTING MARKET SHOPPERS

“The big advantage here is that we do always have a long, cool growing season,” he said.

The cherries have reached their full potential in size, flavour and firmness in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations, which this year begin on 25 Jan and last 23 days.

“Cherries are almost a sacred item in countries like China,” Mr Reid said.

“One of the most popular gifts that you could give in China is a box of cherries.”

Reid Fruits sold gift bagged cherries at roughly $100 AUD per kilogram in Hong Kong last year.

TASWEEKEND: CHERRY RIPE

The company is also the only international grower to export Japanese cherries to Japan, selling at roughly $1 AUD per cherry in supermarkets through winter. The rare fruits are small, sweet and yellow with a pink blush on one side, more peachlike than locally popular dark cherries.

Exporting 80 per cent of his first-grade cherries to some 20 countries, Mr Reid has observed fast growing markets across Asia in Vietnam, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, but limits individual countries to 30 per cent of his crop.

“It’s better to be diversified across a number of markets in case of a breach in biosecurity,” he said.

Fruit Growers Tasmania President Nick Hansen said other soft Tasmanian fruits are benefiting from the “magnificent” conditions.

“Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries across all of Tasmania have just been brilliant this summer,” he said.

“The farm gate sales are all going extremely well.”

Mr Hansen said Tassie’s apple growers are also expecting a high-quality harvest in late February, March and April.

Mr Reid said some 300 cherry packers and 800 harvesters are behind the success of this cherry season, whittled down from over 5,000 applicants.

“We’re well supported by local migrant groups,” he said.

“The Sudanese and Bhutanese people in particular support us strongly, as well as a number of locals who come every year to help supervise the casuals.

“The fact that Reid fruits is a good place to work spreads by word of mouth, so we make sure the workers have a good experience.

“We’ll be picking cherries well into February.”