Larger Australian stone fruit harvest expected

Australia’s stone fruit production is projected to rise in the 2022/23 campaign, after a 2021/22 season that was impacted by a shortage of labour supply at harvest, export freight logistical challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and wet weather at harvest, according to USDA data. Cherry production is forecast to increase by 19%, and peaches and nectarines by 13%. Increases in production, supported with an expectation of an improvement in labour availability for harvest, are expected to result in an increase in exports of cherries by 15% and 25% for peaches and nectarines respectively.