Pre-Christmas cherries could be scarcer this year - and prices higher too.
Picking of Central Otago cherries is about 10 days later than last year.
Suncrest Orchard manager Michael Jones said cherries were selling for between $16 and $20 a kg at the orchard's store, near Cromwell, up $2-$4 a kg on the first pick of 2013.
Less fruit and ''unprecedented'' pre-Christmas demand were being experienced, and lighter crops in other regions were helping drive demand.
''If you are not already in, you may have missed out,'' he said.
Summerfruit New Zealand chairman and Teviot Valley orchardist Gary Bennetts said fruit was selling for about $15-$16 a kg in the valley.
Prices could change depending on availability.
Summerfruit NZ vice-chairman and Cromwell orchardist Tim Jones said the delayed season, and a ''tight'' pre-Christmas period because of a cold spring, would mean good domestic prices for growers.
''We would have to expect pricing to be quite high due to low volumes.''
It was also good news for export fruit sales, with the industry trying to target sales during the Chinese New Year, on February 19.
The later fruit ripened, the better, he said.
Despite ''up and down'' weather in spring, including hail in some areas, little damage was reported, and a good crop had developed.
''The thing for growers now is 10 days of nice weather to improve things a bit.''
Mr Bennetts said the most important thing was growers had cherries hanging on their trees.
''From what I hear there are good crops. They are not huge, but they are good.''
