New Zealand cherry producer Southern Fruits International is expected to ship around 340 tons of cherry to the international market this summer. This is more than double the quantity sent to market last year.
This will be the second year of commercialization on southern fruit international’s Beyond brand cherries that are grown in two major orchard projects that cover more than 160 hectares of Central Otago.
“We’ve received a great pre-season response from developing and existing markets across Asia as well as from new markets emerging in the Middle East and the United States. There are all the indications to expect a successful season.” Southern Fruits International founder and marketing manager Sharon Kirk, said.
“We have taken our pre-sales system to (international trade fair) Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong in September and many buyers were able to purchase pre-purchased the fruit. The confidence we have in our brand and our product is putting us in a excellent position heading into the season.”
The weather conditions in the preseason as well as an increase in the volume of fruit due to maturing of the trees helped in the forecast for volume.
“The trees are currently about three or four years old, and are about half way towards full-time production. As they grow and the load of fruit increases and when the weather is good, like it has been thus far it is expected to be an extremely promising harvest, with incredible fruit sizes and Brix (sugar quantity),” Mrs Kirk stated.
The harvest is beginning with the early variety. The harvest will continue until the end of the month of January, or even February subject to weather conditions.
“Our customers from Asia will be able to find fruits at the time for Christmas.” Mrs Kirk added.
“Over the past 12 months we’ve developed diverse markets in both the United States and the Middle East. Our reach has expanded into China, Taiwan and Vietnam as well as Thailand appears to be emerging as a new market. In the Middle East is an exciting market that has the potential to increase business in the cherries punnets.”
She explained that she was aware that the Chinese market, which has traditionally was willing to pay a higher rate for 30 to 32mm fruits as well as 2kg and 5kg boxes but was this year at a higher level of interest for one kilo of fruit, which is 26mm.
Southern Fruits International also supplies its finest cherries to the market in the country via on-line sales, with 1-kg, 2-kg and 5-kg boxes and also sales through Seeka Fresh Ltd which supplies local retailers and supermarkets.
“As New Zealanders connect the Christmas season with cherries We created our shop online to allow people to have gorgeous Central Otago cherries on the table at Christmas. There has been a huge demand thus that time and the fruit is expected to be accessible for online purchases throughout the holiday season,” Mrs Kirk said.
Southern Fruits International operates out of a modern, state-of-the-art packing facility at Tarras that began operations last year. It is fitted with the latest in technology for packing and grading, which includes sophisticated sorting and grading systems.
A single-touch cherry
Packhouse’s infrastructure has an ice maker that cools the fruit down to 0.5 degrees Celsius over nine to ten minutes. The fruit stays cold when it goes into the container, and keeps it fresh throughout the transport.
“We make a “one-touch” cherry’, where the cherry is brushed by hand when it is picked and it is not touched again until the final customer opens the box.” Mrs. Kirk stated.
Southern Fruits International produces eight known varieties, which are famous for their vibrant quality, colour and size. These include the huge heart-shaped dark red Sonnet as well as the flamboyant dark-red Sandra Rose; heart-shaped deep-red Santina Red-skinned White-Fleshed Stardust and the big, round, and red Lapin with a large heart-shaped red Sweetheart and black-skinned red-fleshed Kordia as well as the classic red cherry Staccato.
“All our cherry varieties have distinct features. They share one thing in common is the size, taste and look, as well as an Central Otago provenance. Central Otago is famous for the highest quality of cherries around the globe due to the soil and climate make it ideal for growing cherries as well as cherry enthusiasts all over the world know this.”
Beyond cherries come in premium, luxury packaging inspired by the hues and symbolism that are typical of Central Otago and designed to maintain freshness about four weeks as long as they’re kept in cool chains.
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Sharon Kirk
Southern Fruits International
+64 219 21246
sharon@hortinvest.nz