New Zealand cherries will still be available on Christmas Day despite an early start to the season driven by warm weather in regions like Central Otago.
Although some areas are seeing fruit mature ahead of schedule this year, industry representatives assure consumers that an abundant supply will remain accessible for Christmas Day. Warm, settled weather has given some regions a head start, particularly in Central Otago, 1News reported.
“We’ve seen quite an early start in some regions, especially in Central Otago,” Summer Fruit NZ chief executive Dean Smith told Seven Sharp. “They’ve had some quite warm, settled weather there, which has got them out of the blocks.”
“Other regions probably more typical, but certainly we’ve had a promising start to the season,” Smith said.
Certain producers attribute part of the positive momentum to this year’s El Niño, noting that the elevated temperatures provide a favorable environment for summer fruit. Smith said some cherries were already reaching shops, and volumes would build between now and Christmas.
He reassured fans that an early start wouldn’t leave the country cherryless in late December. “There will always be New Zealand cherries on the table for Christmas. Absolutely,” he said.
“We’ve got three key regions that supply our cherries, and we’ve also got a range of different varieties as well,” Smith told 1News. “So whilst they all mature at different times, there’ll definitely be cherries on the table for the New Zealand Christmas.”
It is currently premature to determine whether the upcoming harvest will yield a record volume or unusually large fruit, according to his remarks. “It’s kind of, I guess, in some ways like the New Zealand election, a little bit too soon to say,” he said.
“Settled warm weather is definitely favourable for cherries, but there are a lot of other variables as well that go into it,” Smith told Seven Sharp.
| Region / Factor | Status for 2026 Season |
|---|---|
| Central Otago | Early start due to warm, settled weather |
| Other Regions | Typically timed maturity |
| Weather Influence | El Niño potentially aiding warm conditions |
| Christmas Availability | Guaranteed across multiple varieties and regions |
Smith said growers were “quietly optimistic” about the export season, noting that New Zealand cherries hold a premium position overseas, particularly in Asia.
“I don’t know that sometimes Kiwis realise how fortunate we are to have access to New Zealand cherries,” he told Seven Sharp.
“They’ve got an amazing texture. They’re firm. They’ve got an exceptional purity. I think in some ways cherries, perhaps unlike any other fruit, really do express where they come from,” Smith said.
Describing his personal preference for eating the fruit, Smith told Seven Sharp, “From a very large bowl, because if I’m eating cherries, once I get started, I want another one.”
