“We still think our first block of cherries will be ready on time in mid-December, although we normally sell all of those to the people of Tasmania for Christmas. We expect to start up our national and international program after Christmas or in the early New Year,” said Baden Ribbon, Marketing Manager at Hansen Orchards.
“The growing conditions have been cold and windy here in Tasmania. However, all of our cherries are under rain covers, which protect them from the wind, rain, and frosts. As a result, we have a really good crop set and we expect volume to be up by 30% to 40% on last season. It is still early, but size and quality are very consistent for us in Tasmania, even more so under the rain covers.”
Market demand
Tasmania’s largest three export markets are Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia, and that’s in line with Hansen’s own exports. There is also increasing interest from markets like China.
Baden said that it is too early to know how the overall market is looking. “For us at Hansen, we have a very settled customer base, and all of our customers seem excited about the season ahead and picking up where we left off last season. There is no real standout market for us as such. We feel really fortunate to have several international markets that appreciate premium airfreight Tasmanian cherries. We do have a late Chinese New Year (17th February), so the gift-giving demand will come towards the back end of our season.”
The Chinese New Year always falls within the Tasmanian cherry season. “When gifting cherries for Chinese New Year, it is really important for those gifting or those receiving that the cherries are large in size, of premium quality, and fresh from harvest. Tasmania’s cool climate is ideal for growing large-sized premium cherries, and we send all our cherries to Asian markets by airfreight, fresh from harvest. Tasmania certainly has an advantage when meeting the criteria required for gifting a box of cherries for the Chinese New Year that is going to impress friends or family.”
Source: Fresh Plaza
