Cherries

Cherry Growers of Australia represent the biosecurity interests of cherry growers and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:

  • biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
  • liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
  • funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
  • participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.

Industry overview

Cherries are produced in six states, with New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania being the three largest producers, followed by South Australia. These four states have a strong export focus. Western Australia and Queensland are relatively small producers, focusing primarily on the domestic market.

Australian cherries are available from mid to late October until late February. The window of supply in each region is determined by the varieties grown and the local climate.

Cherry production is increasing and moving into new areas largely due to increased export opportunities. Recent access to key Free Trade Agreement markets such as China, Korea and Vietnam have given mainland growers an unprecedented opportunity which until now has been the exclusive domain of Tasmania with its fruit fly free status.

Biosecurity Plan for the Cherry Industry

Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the cherry industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.

The Biosecurity Plan for the Cherry Industry outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au.

Cherry Growers' Biosecurity Manual

The Cherry Growers' Biosecurity Manual contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks. Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.

More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.

Cherry PostcardPost card

Promotional item to support the exotic plant pest hotline 1800 084 881

Fact sheets and web links about the pollination of this crop are listed below. Please be aware that some of the information was developed overseas, and environmental and seasonal variations may occur.

Cherry pollination fact sheet, The Pollination Program (Agrifutures Australia and Hort Innovation)

Honey bees in cherry and plum pollination, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Australian cherry production guide, Cherry Growers Australia

Cherry pollination, Michigan State University

Pollination of fruits and nuts, Purdue University, Indiana

Exotic pests (not in Australia)

The following is a list of high priority exotic pests of cherries. These pests were identified during the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Cherry Industry in consultation with industry, government and scientists. They have been assessed as high priority pests based on their potential to enter, establish, and spread in Australia (eg environmental factors, host range, vectors) and the cost to industry of control measures.

PHA has a range of fact sheets, contingency plans and diagnostic protocols relevant to these pests. Pest risk review documents are also available for some pests. Please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au for more information.

Endorsed National Diagnostic Protocols are available from the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network webpage.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
Brown-marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys FS FS FS CP
Brown rot Monilinia fructigena 3 FS FS FS DP
European canker Neonectria ditissima FS FS DP
Glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis FS FS FS FS FS FS FS CP CP DP
Green headed leaf roller Planotortrix octo FS FS
Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis 2 FS FS FS FS FS FS FS DP DP
Plum pox virus Plum pox virus (Potyvirus) 2 FS FS CP DP
Spotted wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii FS FS FS FS
Xylella fastidiosa Xylella fastidiosa including X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex and pauca 2 FS FS FS FS FS FS CP CPDP

Other pests

The following is a list of documents for other exotic and endemic pests of the cherry industry. Please note that this is not a complete list of pests: rather it includes pests for which documents exist in the Pest Information Document Database.

Some of the documents presented here are not tailored to the cherry industry and are included for information only.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
Almond kernel shrivel Peach yellow leafroll phytoplasma FS
Almond seed wasp Eurytoma amygdali FS
Apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella FS FS DP
Black cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis fausta DP
Blackline (Cherry leaf roll virus) Cherry leaf roll virus (Nepovirus) (exotic strains) 3
Brown headed leaf roller Ctenopseustis obliquana and Ctenopseustis herang FS
Cassava spider mite Tetranychus truncatus FS
European stone fruit yellows Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum 3 FS
Japanese beetle Popillia japonica FS
Little cherry virus 1 Little cherry virus 1 (Unassigned)
Little cherry virus 2 Little cherry virus 2 (Ampelovirus)
Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata FS DP
Oblique-banded leaf roller Choristoneura rosaceana FS
Omnivorous leaf roller Platynota stultana FS
Orange tortrix Argyrotaenia citrana syn A. franciscana FS
Pacific spider mite Tetranychus pacificus FS
Papaya mealy bug Paracoccus marginatus FS CP
Peach twig borer Anarsia lineatella FS
Peach X disease Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni 3 FS
Plum curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar 2 FS FS
Plum fruit moth Cydia funebrana FS
Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni FS DP
Raspberry ringspot virus Raspberry ringspot virus (Nepovirus) FS
Strawberry spider mite Tetranychus turkestani FS
Tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris FS FS FS CP
Texas root rot Phymatotrichopsis omnivora (syn Phymatotrichum omnivorum) 2 FS FS
Tomato black ring virus Tomato black ring virus (Nepovirus) FS
Tomato ringspot virus Tomato ringspot virus (Nepovirus) FS
Verticillium wilt Verticillium dahliae (exotic defoliating strains) 3 FS
Western cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis indifferens DP
Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis FS