China is now ripe for the picking after market access reforms and changes to fumigation requirements could allow local cherries to be on Chinese supermarket shelves soon after they are harvested.

Until these reforms, only Tasmanian cherries were able to be imported to Asia due to fruit-fly concerns.

Graham Sutherland, of Lavender Hill Orchard in the Central West, said the announcement was good news for all cherry farmers.

“It is extremely important for cherry farmers both big and small to have access to another market, this is going to help us immensely,” he said.

“It will reduce an oversupply onto the market of cherries, which is so important.

“The minute we get an oversupply on the market, then consumers will always look to get the cheapest price possible, but with this export market opening up it will set a floor in the domestic market.”

Mr Sutherland said smaller boutique farms such as his would be able to compete domestically with Tasmanian farmers thanks to the export market opening up.

“For years Tasmanian cherries have been fetching far better prices than ours because they have not been oversupplied to the market, this will mean their product will be priced more in line with ours domestically,” he said. “So it’s good news for Young cherry farmers on both a domestic and international level.”