New South Wales, a area known for its thriving cherries, recently suffered a devastating setback because of unexpected hail storms the 2nd of December, on a Saturday. This extreme weather pattern, marked by strong rains and heavy winds, is particularly affecting the cherry orchards and caused massive crop losses just prior to the critical Christmas season.
The effects were felt most in areas that produce cherries, such as Gulgong and close to Mudgee as well as Young frequently referred to as the nation’s “cherry capital.” These regions’ orchards are known for their high-quality varieties, such as the famous Christmas “Stella” variety, experienced their harvests destroyed by severe weather. A sudden rainstorm caused cherries to soak up a lot of water. The result was the skin breaking in large numbers and causing the fruit to be unsuitable to be sold.
Fiona Hall, general manager of Biteriot, a key manufacturer of cherry, explained the magnitude of the loss: “We’ve walked away from the crop because there were too many damages. It fills cherry with liquid, which causes the skins to split and burst.”
The damage is significant and hundreds of tons of cherries being affected. This loss does not just have economic implications for cultivators, but also impacts the communities in the area that depend on the cherry harvest for cultural and economic activity. “Everything was set to make for the perfect season – excellent pollination and great set of fruit. What was supposed to be looking to be a fantastic year will be a very difficult year,” Hall added. Even with these issues growing cherry trees, growers are asking to the public’s support for the blemished but still delicious, cherry which is still.
Alongside the cherries, storms have negative effects on wheat crop. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Meteorology highlighted the concern: “Heavy rain can cause severe damage to grain. It is essential to harvest wheat when dry. Rain slows harvesting and raises fears about fungal outbreaks and growing.”
The impact was felt most acutely The effects were felt particularly in Berry located on the New South Wales South Coast and where people such as Jessica Cassidy experienced the storm’s destructive force. “It was cyclonic,”” Cassidy described. “Our gutters had been ripped away and water was gushing all over. There were trees everywhere, and the firefighters weren’t able to reach a neighbor’s vehicle that was burning because of the live power.”
While New South Wales navigates the aftershocks of these hurricanes The enduring strength of the farming community is apparent. In the face of immediate issues of loss of crops and infrastructure destruction, the area looks toward recovery and adaption by demonstrating the strength and determination inherent in Australian agriculture.
Source: www.theguardian.com www.abc.net.au