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Tasmania: where the world’s best cherries are grown!
Fruit Growers Tasmania | Tuesday, 17 December 2024, 2.00pm
Tasmanians can now fully celebrate the start of summer with one of the season’s most anticipated treats - fresh Tasmanian cherries.
And not just any cherries - but the world’s best!
From supermarket shelves to roadside stalls, delicious Tasmanian cherries are now available across the state, offering a sweet and flavoursome taste of summer.
To celebrate the beginning of the Tasmanian cherry season, the Hon. Jane Howlett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water and Fruit Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish have been in store to sample some of the early season cherries.
Tony Coad, Manager Marketing and Sales at Reid Fruits said “It’s an exciting time of year for us at Reid Fruits with another cherry harvest getting underway and our cherries now available.
“The crop is looking excellent and we’re anticipating a 15 per cent increase in volume this season compared to last year.
“We are expecting good size, colour and sweetness as the different varieties ripen and are ready to harvest throughout the season. With summer underway, it looks like being another great season for Tasmanian cherries!”
Fruit Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish said “Tasmania’s cool maritime climate allows our fruit to mature fully, enhancing the size, sweetness and intense natural flavour Tasmanian cherries are famous for.
“We are so lucky to be the first to get our hands on the world’s best cherries, nowhere else in the world gets them fresh from the tree like we do!
"Every summer, locals and visitors look forward to enjoying Tasmanian cherries, and we’re excited that they are now available across the state for everyone to enjoy."
While the peak of the cherry season comes in January, aligning perfectly with the Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia, Tasmanian growers have been investing in newer varieties, many of which are grown to supply local pre-Christmas demand.
The exceptional quality of Tasmanian cherries has helped Tasmania become a leading producer of cherries in Australia, supplying more than half of the nation's cherry exports, valued at $48 million annually.
With over 20 international export markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, Tasmanian cherries are in high demand globally. Thanks to direct air freight services, these cherries arrive fresh in international markets within 48–72 hours of being picked, ensuring the fruit’s exceptional quality remains intact.
“Our cherries are enjoyed around the world, but Tasmanians are lucky enough to get the first taste” Mr Cornish said.
Tasmanian cherries will now be available from specialty fruit stores, supermarkets, farmers’ markets and direct from growers around the state.
For more information on where to buy fresh cherries direct from the grower, view the recently launched 2024-25 Tasmanian Seasonal Produce Guide on the Fruit Growers Tasmania website or pick up a copy from visitor information centres, Spirit of Tasmania ferries, Hobart and Launceston airports and participating businesses.
View Fruit Growers Tasmania promotional video on cherries
