Australian Blueberry Deal Takes Hit
New South Wales, Australia-
By ANUK Staff
2.1.13
Unseasonably warms temperatures in January have severely damaged blueberry production in New South Wales, Australia.
Tumbarumba-based Jolly Berries expects to harvest less than half of last season’s haul, mainly due to the hot weather, according to ABC Australia.
Grower Molly Crozier commented on the struggling berries. "They went black and then they started to shrivel and the bush actually shut down," she said.
"To save itself, the fruit was sacrificed and then it wouldn't come back.”
“The bush wouldn't come back.”
"We tried to pump water in it and it give it a bit more fertilizer but the next lot of berries just wouldn't come on, they wouldn't size up, they stayed as they were."
The variety that is currently being picked has already suffered at the hands of frost in November.The property is looking to harvest 35 tons of blueberries this year, down from 90 tons last season, and is looking to use more of its second-grade berries as wine and jam.
Jolly Berries
