First there was the weather with record rains. Then the Federal Government’s backpacker tax threatened to railroad the local industry. Next, the bats flew into town. And now it’s back to the weather as orchardists look for rain and cold nights for more colour in their fruit.
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It’s been one of the liveliest lead-ups to a harvest season in Orange but apple picking is finally due to start in a few days time.
Orchardist Peter West said on Tuesday the season was about two weeks later than normal due to the weather.
“The Galas will be first. They’ll be ready in the next week or so,” he said.
Mr West said they were hoping for some cool nights to bring out fruit colour.
“We’d like rain, but we’re not going to get it.”
He said 20 backpacker pickers would be housed on his Nashdale property.
And while his large nets mainly protect the fruit from hail damage he was keeping a wary eye out for the bats – hundreds of which have taken roost in about six trees in Cook Park.
“We have had trouble with them before at our property at Nashdale and here [his Canobolas Road orchard].”
Fellow orchardist Peter Darley is also watching out for the flying foxes.
“I haven’t seen any yet. But once the fruit does ripen we see them.”
Mr Darley said Orange’s 26 orchards produced about two million cases of apples every year.
“We are all still hanging out for more colour,” he said.
“One good rain would help us.”
Mr Darley said Pink Lady apples were the most popular, Delicious were on the wane and Granny Smiths were still popular.
He said apples from the Bilpin district in the Blue Mountains had already been harvested as that area had more rain.
Mr Darley said the Orange harvest would last until mid-May.
This year he has signed up 10 workers from the Solomon Islands to pick his fruit after last year using workers from Vanuatu.
“It worked very, very well,” he said.
He said they were more reliable than backpackers who stayed for only a few weeks.
Orange City Council will provide space for 50 backpackers at the Colour City Caravan Park.
Pickers will need to provide their own tent and equipment.
It will not re-open the Showgrounds tent town used by fruit pickers during the cherry season due to lower demand.