It’s just not summer without plump, juicy red cherries.
Whether it’s for sweet or savoury dishes, cherries are one of those summer favourites that always make it onto the menu – and the Christmas table.
The small stone fruit start appearing late October and continue through to February, with the peak harvesting season in the hottest months of December and January.
“Being such a short season, cherries generally create that excitement when you know it’s cherry season,” says Andrew Smith, cherry grower.
“Whereas you can buy apples virtually 12 months a year now … cherries are pretty much 12 weeks, maybe 14 so you’ve got to get them while they’re here, because they’re not going to last long.”
Andrew, a fourth-generation stonefruit grower, says as well as tasting great, cherries have fantastic health benefits.
“They are high in antioxidants,” he says, adding they’re a good source of Vitamin C.
While it’s difficult for the average consumer to tell, there are several varieties of cherries, with names such as supreme, stella, lapin, sweetheart and ron’s.
But whatever the variety, growers recommend keeping cherries cool and dry by storing them in a snap-lock bag or air-tight container in the fridge to preserve their freshness, quality and shelf life.
Andrew’s family also stew cherries when they’re available and freeze them so they can be enjoyed in recipes, including chutneys and desserts, throughout the year.
The Australian country town of Young, which is located about 350km from Sydney, has long considered itself the nation’s cherry capital, with its history of cherry growing since the 1840s.
From late October the town of 10,000 people swells with seasonal workers looking for cherry-picking work, and tourists looking to snap up box-loads of the little red seed fruit.
Some even try their hand at picking their own and many orchards offer visitors the chance to do this. The town also celebrates cherry season with its annual cherry festival, held on the first weekend in December.
Andrew says while Young can still lay claim to the title of cherry capital, several areas are giving it a run for its money. New Zealand has yet to find its Cherry growing capital!
