THE VICTORIAN CHERRY SEASON IS ABOUT TO START

Victorian Cherry season will kick off in early November and signs are indicating a great season right from the start! Victorians and visitors can enjoy the adored red fruit while supporting Victorian growers on the Victorian Cherry Trail, with orchards across the Yarra Valley and in the Upper Goulburn Valley and Macedon Ranges.

The Victorian Cherry season typically runs from November until mid-January, with the peak season being in December. Across these months there are a variety of different Victorian Cherries to enjoy – including Merchant, Bing, Regina, Lapin, Sweet Georgia, Sweetheart and Van – so the cherry eaten at the start of the season will be different to the one eaten at the end. All the more reason to visit different orchards and eat them all season long!

The Cherry Trail gives everyone the opportunity to visit seven orchards, buy farm-fresh Cherries from the on-site shop and even pick-their-own at five of the farms. It’s a great day out for families, couples or friends and a fantastic way to support Victorian farms from Sunraysia to Mornington Peninsula.

Victorian Cherry Trail includes orchards in the following regions:

Yarra Valley Ranges

○ Big Fella Cherries, 38 Boundary Rd, Coldstream – Pick Your Own and buy farm fresh
○ Blue Hills Berries & Cherries, 27 Parker Road, Silvan – Pick Your Own and buy farm fresh
○ Cherry Hill Orchards, 474 Queens Rd, Wandin – Pick Your Own and buy farm fresh
○ Yarra Valley Cherries, 585 Victoria Rd, Seville – Buy farm fresh
○ Wandin Valley Farms, 47 Hunter Rd, Wandin North – Buy farm fresh

Upper Goulburn Valley

○ Koala Cherries, 6547 Maroondah Hwy, Yarck – Buy farm fresh

Macedon Ranges

○ Naturipe Fruits, 638 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bacchus Marsh – Pick Your Own and buy farm fresh

Cherries make the perfect snack, eaten on their own while out and about, at home or at school. They are also a great cooking ingredient in both sweet and savoury dishes, adding flavour and richness to salads, salsas, sauces, dressings and desserts. Of course, Cherries are an ideal gift too, especially around the festive season when they are mid-season and available in abundance. And is it really Christmas without a box of cherries? And those self-picked are always even more rewarding and taste even sweeter!

Cherries do not continue to ripen once picked, so snacking can begin immediately after visiting the orchard! They can be stored in the fridge in a bag or container for up to ten days, or frozen for up to six months when de-stoned.

Delicious Victorian Cherries are a summer staple, so everyone should ensure they are at the top of their grocery lists this season and that the Victorian Cherry Trail is on the list of things to do!

The Victorian Cherry Trail brochure is available on the Victorian Cherry Association website here https://www.cherries.org.au/cherries/harvest-trail