Cherry production in the Australian state of Tasmania rose 70% year-on-year to reach 5,000 metric tons (MT) in 2012-13, newspaper The Advocate reported. 

Fruit Growers Tasmania business development officer Lucy Gregg told the newspaper the industry recorded a high average packout of 87%, driven by a dry harvest and good growing conditions.

The story reported the larger crop was also due to more younger trees coming into production.

"This season, the weather conditions on the whole have been favourable for cherry production and this has resulted in a blemish-free crop, full of flavour and excellent quality," Gregg was quoted as saying.

These results were achieved despite bushfires and a lack of water for some growers, which Gregg said had a minimal impact overall, the story reported.

"We are also very mindful of those growers which were severely impacted by the bushfires and by generalising the results of the season we do not want to detract from the enormous impact the bushfires had on some of our members," she was quoted as saying.

Exports jumped by 45% year-on-year to 1,920MT, which was aided by the opening of the mainland Chinese market and a 30% decline in Chilean exports.

Following on from this positive season, Gregg said some pickers would not be registering for export in the next campaign due to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) AUD$8,000 (US$8,351) hike in shed registration fees.

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