Some Central Otago orchardists have been hit by snow twice in one month this Spring, but the fruit appears relatively unscathed.

Early predictions for the 2024/25 season have shown a strong crop across much of the summer fruit, and many orchardists are cautiously optimistic.

Both 2017 and 2018 was the last time Central Otago experienced bumper crops with record volumes of apricots, in particular, and an early harvest.

Last season was short and sharp for cherries, with orchardists experiencing everything from rain, hail, strong winds and eventually drought.

Last month’s heavy rain event across Otago resulted in flooding along the coast, and did have some impact on inland orchards - Gourmet Summerfruit orchard in Roxburgh East experienced ‘blossom blight’ on some of the later flowering blocks.

But manager Matt Tyrrell said the Teviot Valley completely missed the snow which dumped further north around Earnscleugh and Alexandra.

Cromwell was largely unaffected as well.

The Teviot tended to flower early but with cooler weather in October than the rest of Central Otago, resulting in a later season overall.

Panmure Orchards in Earnscleugh was one of the orchards affected by the double whammy of snow that hit in October.

Co-owner Jeremy Hiscock said other than a few broken wires on blocks that had started pulling nets out, there had been no immediate losses of fruit, with just some possible marking.

He said temperatures stayed above zero in the last snow event, “and we were very lucky again not to have had severe frost.”

“It was bloody scary though while it was happening,” he said.

Cromwell grower Simon Webb said the two recent snow events certainly had them on edge, despite the white stuff not actually settling in and around the town.

“We were really really lucky with just a few minor frosts out of it. But when you have got all of that snow on the mountains, you definitely get a bit nervous, and expect to get some rip roaring frosts…”

This year Chinese New Year was early on January 29, 2025, which made it favourable for cherry growers right across the district.

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