The 2025 cherry and stone fruit harvest in the Hilltops region of New South Wales has wrapped up as a testament to the area’s reputation as Australia’s cherry capital.
Amid cooler weather patterns and a focus on sustainability, growers reported a solid season with high-quality fruit, though not without hurdles like cosmetic rejections and labour demands.
The National Cherry Festival in Young, held from December 4 to 6, celebrated the peak of the harvest, drawing crowds to orchards glowing with red and green bounty.
The season kicked off with symbolic fanfare at the Sydney Markets, where the first 5kg box of cherries – sourced from Victoria but emblematic of the national start – fetched a record-breaking $260,000 at auction on November 29. Proceeds benefited the Sydney Markets Foundation, highlighting the premium value placed on early-season fruit.
In South Australia, a similar charity auction saw a 5kg box sell for $65,000, underscoring the high stakes and charitable spirit of these events. While Hilltops-specific first-box figures weren’t publicly auctioned in the same spotlight, local growers noted strong initial market prices, with premium cherries commanding $13,000 per kg equivalents in early sales. Nationally, Australia’s cherry production for the 2025/26 season dipped to around 18,000 tonnes, a 10% drop from prior years, due to variable weather. Of this, approximately 4,000 tonnes were exported, primarily to Asia, with Hong Kong emerging as the top international destination – accounting for one in three exported cherries.
Domestically, Hilltops cherries flooded local markets in Young and surrounding areas, with farm-gate sales booming at spots like Valley Fresh Cherries & Stonefruits. Nationally, they reached supermarkets and wholesalers across states, from Sydney to Melbourne, while stone fruits like plums followed suit from late January into April.
However, the season wasn’t without its imperfections – literally. A persistent issue in the industry is the rejection of “ugly” or cosmetically imperfect fruit by major retailers. In Australia, up to 30% of produce never leaves the farm due to strict standards on size, color, and shape. For cherries and stone fruits, this means thousands of tonnes wasted annually, with services like Farmers Pick diverting 140,000 kg of cherries alone from landfills in 2025 by selling them directly to consumers via subscription boxes.
Growers urge shoppers to embrace blemished fruit: “Minor imperfections like missing stems or slight size variations don’t affect taste, but they drive massive waste,” said Josh Ball, co-founder of Farmers Pick.
nitiatives to valorise imperfect produce are gaining traction, but consumer habits remain a barrier, with many prioritising appearance over edibility. Wastage was further exacerbated by weather events. Unseasonably cold snaps from Antarctic blasts delayed ripening in regions like central Victoria, pushing harvests back by weeks and affecting early varieties.
In Hilltops, similar cool conditions slowed growth but ultimately enhanced flavour, allowing cherries more time to develop sweetness. However, past seasons’ storms – like those dumping over 150mm of rain – serve as a reminder of vulnerabilities, causing fruit splitting and rot. Nationally, such events contribute to significant losses, compounding the imperfect fruit problem and straining farm economics.
On the labour front, the Hilltops fruit industry remains a major employer, with agriculture as the region’s largest sector by workforce. During peak cherry harvest from mid-November to late December, and stone fruit from January to April, thousands are employed in picking, packing, and orchard maintenance. Estimates suggest the national horticulture sector faced a 26,000-worker shortage in recent years, but Hilltops orchards relied on a mix of local and seasonal staff. Foreign pickers play a crucial role, with backpackers on Working Holiday Visas (subclass 417/462) and participants in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme flocking to Young.
While exact local figures vary, Tasmania’s similar industry employs up to 9,000 seasonal workers in January alone, and Hilltops likely sees 2,000-3,000 foreign pickers during cherry season, drawn by visa extensions and competitive pay. Many hail from Italy, Indonesia, and Pacific nations, enduring long hours but enjoying the rural vibe.
As the 2025 season concluded, Hilltops growers look ahead with optimism. “It’s a high-risk crop, but the rewards – fresh, juicy cherries – make it worthwhile,” reflected one local orchard owner. With exports booming and calls for reduced waste, the region continues to sweeten Australia’s summer tables.
For more on local produce, visit the Hilltops Region website or stop by a farm gate near you.
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