NORTH East berry growers are in full swing as the later season reaches a peak.
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High Grove Chestnut and Berry Farm owner Tony Iaria said his berrry season was two weeks later due to the cool and wet spring.
Mr Iaria said the later season would likely run until the first week in February.
“In 10 years on the property we’ve never experienced that,” he said.
“Overall we’ve got great quality and production and hardly any wastage that you can get with an earlier season like last summer.”
High Grove usually opens for berry-picking on December 13-15 but last summer opened early on December 5.
Wooragee property Beechworth Berries owner Bob Dunnett said his strawberry season was about one week later than usual.
He said though the peak strawberry season was much later than average, variation in seasons was expected.
“It’s ‘situation normal’ to have unpredictability in the seasons,” Mr Dunnett said.
“It’s a reminder that we’re at the mercy of the environment – as growers if we can’t adapt we’re in trouble.
“Last year’s season was almost the complete opposite to this season.”
Beechworth Berries pick-your-own strawberries will run until late January with raspberries and blackberries also in production.
Mr Iaria said they had record numbers of pickers on the property this summer.
“We’re breaking all records,” he said.
“Numbers are up 20 per cent; we’re experiencing a lot of first-timers as well as regulars from Albury-Wodonga, Wangaratta and surrounds.
“The raspberries are top of the list for most people followed by blueberries and blackberries. The blueberries were struggling to keep up but they’re finally getting ahead now.”