Cherries Are Profitable

Then, as now, cherry farming was labour-intensive and required plenty of water, yet demand and price made up for these factors.

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22 YEARS AGO

The average yearly tonnage of cherries produced in the eastern Free State is about 500t, and represents 95% of the South African cherry crop, says Roy van der Westhuizen, a grower on the slopes of Nebo Mountain near Ficksburg.

Roy says cherry farming is labour-intensive, as each cherry has to be picked ripe as they don’t ripen off the tree. Each must have its stalk attached. If this is not done, they ‘weep’ and go off quickly.

About 200 cherries make up a kilogram, hence, he adds, the high price. Yield is about 7t/ha.

The old cherry orchard at Nebo was planted in 1930 by Colin Sydie, Roy’s grandfather. A new orchard planted in 1983 has not been successful as a number of trees have died from bacterial canker. Roy plans, however, to replant with heathy stock. The bearing life of a cherry tree is about 30 years, but he has trees double that age that are still giving a crop.