45 South chief executive Tim Jones. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Central Otago cherry growers are expecting record volumes of fruit this season.
45 South Cherries chief executive Tim Jones said now that they had survived October's nasty weather, they had been able to assess crops, and fruit volumes may be double that of past years.
New plantings were coming into their own, he said.
"The last three years have been pretty disappointing crops but all those trees that have been planted in the past five or six will really hit their straps this year.
"Last year the industry exported a little over three thousand tonnes and I would suggest this year it could be at least five or six thousand," he said.
Key markets for New Zealand cherries included Taiwan, China, Thailand and Vietnam, with United States and Canada becoming more important for some of the smaller, lower value fruit.
New Zealanders should see plenty of cherries for sale pre-Christmas, with picking starting late November or early December and continuing through into January, Jones said.
Export picking would start mid December and while growers were positive, they were also a little nervous dealing with a potentially record crop after so many difficult years, he said.
"We will have logistical issues getting our fruit from New Zealand into the markets as the airline industry recovers, but it's looking positive at this stage.
"We are obviously not back to full capacity (with planes) and whereas in the past few years passenger planes were flying with no passengers, just freight, this year they're full of passengers so less freight on each plane but the industry is working to get charter flights in during the peak month of January to help get the volume into the market."
Cherry growers were hopeful the labour shortages were also behind them with strong inquiries for work this season coming from university students and backpackers.
Jones summed up that the sector was feeling more positive and after a tough couple of years it "could do with a good run under the belt"