''It's been a vintage season - unusually good for cherries,'' Coal Creek orchardists Stephen Jeffery said this week.
Tim Jones, general manager at 45 South which is New Zealand's largest cherry exporter, said it was a remarkable season with ''wonderful fruit quality and volume''.
''The weather's been fantastic and the fruit is coming off really well. This is the one we've been waiting for. I've been here for 20 years and this is the best season we've had, with basically no rain during harvest ... it's just been a dream,'' he said.
The season is about three-quarters the way through and Summerfruit New Zealand chairman and Coal Creek orchardist Gary Bennetts said the volume of export cherries was likely to be about double the amount exported last year.
''There are some happy cherry growers around but let's not forget the season isn't over yet.
"And it's not over until we get the money in the bank,'' he said.
The only ''down side'' to this year's fruit season was the Chinese New Year being celebrated on February 19.
''There's usually a real pull from that marketplace for cherries but we're a long way off that date this year.''
The extra volume of cherries this season should not have much impact on prices growers received.
The market could cope with extra quantities of good-quality cherries, Mr Bennetts said.
There could be a record amount of cherries harvested this season as well as a record volume exported.
Clyde Orchards co-owner Kevin Paulin also said it was the best cherry crop for about 20 years.
''Without the rain we've had in other seasons, the quality is great - there's no rain-damaged fruit."
Dry weather was perfect for cherry growers, Mr Bennetts said.
''While we have some sympathy for farmers in the region, we're happy to have a dry year. I think it's our turn for a good season.''
Mr Paulin agreed: ''It's pretty tough on farmers but the drier the better for us.''
Mr Jones said the dry season meant 45 South had ''less than half'' the waste fruit of last season.
He estimated the business would process more than 1000 tonnes of cherries this season and of that, 80% would be export-quality, compared with 65%-70% in the last few seasons.
Later crops of peaches and nectarines are starting to ripen now. Mr Bennetts said the apricot crop, being harvested now, was lighter than usual.
Central Otago Winegrowers Association president James Dicey said the dry weather was also a bonus for grape growers.
''I've certainly got a big smile on my dial,'' he said.
Most winegrowers still had access to ample water for irrigation and the dry season gave them the ''luxury'' of being able to control the balance of how much water vines received.
The last season like this was 2008, ''so it's been a long time between drinks for winegrowers''.
Grapegrowers were still frost-fighting this month, which was unusual in January.
