It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on this Victorian cherry farm.
Bill and Lois Hotson have been growing cherries in the little town of Chiltern, north-east Victoria, for the last four decades.
And Mr Hotson said this year’s crop is ready to pick.
“We normally harvest from Melbourne Cup Day to Christmas and hope we’re all sold out by Christmas Eve,” he said.
“The trees are looking excellent so we’re expecting quite a good crop, especially from our early cherry varieties.”
Bill Hotson and his wife Lois have been growing cherries in Chiltern since 1984. (ABC Rural: Faith Tabalujan)
A summer staple
Whether they are piled high on a pavlova or eaten straight from the punnet, cherries are a favourite fruit.
Australians bought more than $215 million worth of cherries in the 2022-2023 financial year, according to industry body Hort Innovation.
Over 40 types of cherries are grown in Australia, with the majority coming from the southern states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.
Cherry Growers Australia president Alison Jones said it had been a strong start to the season.
“We’re anticipating nationwide production to reach about 20,000 tonnes this year with growers expecting average to above-average yields,” she said.
“The recent burst of warmth we’ve had has helped increase the sugars in the fruit so the cherries are sweet with a lovely sheen.”
Australians spent more than $215 million on cherries last year, with demand usually surging ahead of Christmas. (ABC Rural: Faith Tabalujan)
Mr Hotson said it came after a disappointing harvest in 2023.
“Pollination was pretty ordinary last year and so our tonnage was down a lot,” he said.
Ms Jones said seasonal conditions also did not help.
“The last couple of years have been reasonably challenging because we’ve had wet weather and not enough warmth,” she said.
Cherry Growers Australia’s Alison Jones is looking forward to a solid cherry season. (Supplied: Alison Jones)
But Ms Jones said this year was a different story.
“All our growers are really buoyant because we’ve had a good run with weather and production which means plenty of quality fruit heading into Christmas,” she said.
Mr Hotson said customers were already placing their end-of-year orders.
“People have been ringing up to ask when the early cherries will arrive to make sure they get a taste,” he said.
“One lady’s even put her order in for Christmas because she missed out last year.”
From paddock to punnet
Mr Hotson said they bring in a motley, and much-loved, crew of workers during the busy harvest period.
“We have backpackers and Congolese migrants who come and pick all day,” he said.
“It’s lovely to have them because they chat, sing, and bring some spice to life here.”
As soon as they are picked, cherries are cooled and packed to hit supermarket shelves. (ABC Rural: Faith Tabalujan)
After picking the cherries are cooled, graded, and packed as quickly as possible.
“We put them through a hydrocooler — which is like a cold shower for the cherries — to get their temperature down to between 2 to 4 degrees,” Mr Hotson said.
“That’s critical as it ensures a longer post-harvest shelf life.”
While they grow all kinds of cherries, Mrs Hotson said they do have a favourite.
“We have about 19 different varieties which ripen at different times so we have cherries throughout the season,” she said.
“But we like the Merchant variety best. They’re not the biggest or the firmest fruit, but they’ve got the best flavour.”
Mrs Hotson has some tips for picking the best punnet.
“The fruit should be shiny and ripe with an even red colour, with a nice green stem still attached,” she said.
But colour does not always indicate sweetness, according to Mrs Hotson.
“You can get a lighter cherry which still has a nice flavour, it just depends on the variety,” she said.
Beyond cherries
After four decades of farming Lois Hotson knows how to pick a tasty cherry. (ABC Rural: Faith Tabalujan)
After 40 years of farming and 50 years of marriage, Mrs Hotson said they still love what they do.
“We enjoy meeting all the people who come back year after year,” she said.
“And when you look at the orchard and have all these beautiful cherries on the trees it’s wonderful.”
Mr Hotson said teamwork is what keeps them going.
“You’ve got to get on well. It’s called love. And you’ve got to support each other because life is challenging sometimes,” he said.
But Mrs Hotson said the future of their farm, where they breed Angus cattle as well as grow cherries, remains uncertain.
“We’ve got four kids who bring their families here at cherry time, both to help in the packing shed and to take lots of cherries home with them,” she said.
“They’re not going to take over the orchard though so we’re working out our next step.”
Nonetheless, Mr Hotson said cherries would always be a passion of theirs.
“We’re a bit slower these days so can’t always be out picking anymore, but we still love it,” he said.
