Despite a colder summer in Central Otago and cherry exports currently only half what they were last year, there are some good quality apricots being picked.

Remarkable Orchards co-owner Sid Burtles said after having to pull out of cherries at the end of the season because of the weather, the apricot season has started well.

The Teviot Valley missed a lot of the earlier rain over the Christmas and New Year but then copped bad weather in recent weeks. 

Sid estimated he’d lost about 15% of his cherry crop, but growers in Cromwell faired much worse.

The latest Summerfruit NZ export market report shows apricots are doing much better than last year, currently sitting at 6304kg compared to just 3397 in 2024/25.

Export cherries are currently at just 1,530,111kg compared to 3,098,839kg at the same time in 2024/25.

Heritage plums such as greengages are also producing well this season. Image: file

Sid said most of his apricots would remain in the domestic market because there wasn’t the destination for them overseas, “and it’s hard to get into Aussie.”

He will start picking nectarines early next week, followed by peaches, but both had a lighter crop this season.

“You just take it as it comes.”

Also a pipfruit grower on his 100ha orchard at East Roxburgh, he was looking forward to the apple season in late February, and the fruit was looking good. 

“Apples can weather anything, but stonefruit is very vulnerable to the weather.”

Summerfruit NZ technical advisor Richard Mills said Hawkes Bay was about to finish its summerfruit season, while Central Otago was just starting to ramp up.

He said the lack of overlap between the two fruit growing regions was positive for Central Otago, because it kept fruit in the market, but at a rate the consumer could cope with.

An early Hawkes Bay season meant the region was two weeks ahead, whilst in Central Otago it has been running a week or two behind - with Roxburgh being the exception.

Meanwhile, in the viticulture industry, Central Otago Winegrowers general manager Carolyn Murray said the overall vine health is excellent, despite the season being marked by continuous rainfall. 

“Yields are tracking small to average, with a smaller regional crop expected and smaller berry size.

“Quality is looking very promising, though we're hoping for a warm and dry February and March. Harvest is shaping up to be slightly later overall.”

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