The main Scottish cherry harvest is yet to start, but the timing looks to be normal, or just slightly later.
Matthew McIntyre, who grows cherries in Blairgowrie, Perthshire will start the harvest at the end of July. Firstly for a neighbouring grower and then expects to start his own harvest of later varieties mid-August.
"We are a bit disappointed as the fruit was looking very good until we had a June drop which was a big surprise. The Sweetheart and Sentennial varieties don't normally have June drop. In 12 years of growing cherries, I have never seen it to this extent. It is probably due to either the cold weather during pollination or during fruit set. It is pretty devastating to see it all drop off, but you just have to walk away and let it happen. We lost half the crop. Two or three other Scottish growers have experienced the same with those varieties."
According to Matthew the market by mid-August will be short so they should see good demand and prices for the cherries that they have.
"Disease has not been a big problem despite the wet weather, locally we have not had as much rain as in the surrounding 10 miles. It has been cold as well as wet, meaning humidity was low. The light crop means the cherries are more spread out, so quality has remained good."
Less fruit means less pickers, so Matthew is taking the opportunity to improve the worker's accommodation. Everything has to be up to a good standard to get workers through the Government visa scheme.
"Sizing will be big across all varieties, one advantage of a lighter crop and some retailers will offer more money for bigger fruit, while others don't. We are contracted to Driscoll's, where we have the advantage of their good relationships with retailers, both in the UK and further afield. We may have some fruit available for individual export, but this can be risky for growers, so it is better to have an organisation who buys the fruit from you to export, there is less risk."
The season is on time, possibly a bit late, which is positive as Kent and the early areas in England were a bit early so that should help clear mid-season fruit, leaving the market clear for Scottish growers. There will also be very little Canadian cherries coming over as they have had a light crop too.
"Our new planting of the Cerasina varieties will be coming online with small volumes this season, these varieties have better fruit set, are later and more reliable. These have been planted on a fruit wall, a new way of growing for us. The volumes will continue to increase as the trees mature, and additional new orchards come into commercial production."
Matthew has 24 ha in commercial production at the moment and by next year will have a total of 28 ha planted in cherries.
For more information:
Matthew McIntyre
McIntyre Fruit Ltd
Tel: +44(0)7713106784
[email protected]
www.mcintyrefruit.co.uk