'Tis the season for cherries

• WA fruit and vegetables in season now are ideal for festive feasting

Western Australian-produced cherries have hit supermarket shelves with high quality fruit arriving just in time for the festive season.

Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston said the fruit was of excellent quality, offering good value for consumers and strong price returns for growers.

"Yields are lower, but this was expected due to the variable weather conditions over winter and spring," Mr Baston said.

"The sugar content of the fruit is very good making it appealing to consumers."

The Minister said about 85 per cent of WA's cherries were produced in the Donnybrook/Kirup and Manjimup/Pemberton region.

"Growers are also located in Balingup and Bridgetown, between Mount Barker and Albany, as well as Dwellingup and the Perth Hills," he said.

Cherries have become a very popular addition to the Christmas lunch table, along with an array of other WA produce including hams, cheese, summer fruits and wines.

Mr Baston said the State Government's Buy West Eat Best program, which operated through the Department of Agriculture and Food, was making it easier for consumers to identify Western Australian produce.

"The green logo in the shape of the State with a bite mark is the identifying symbol which consumers have become familiar with," he said.

"When they see this symbol, they know that the fresh foods and the main ingredients in processed foods must have been 'grown, farmed or fished' in our State. They must also be processed in Western Australia.

"Not only does it taste great but you are buying locally grown produce and you are supporting the Western Australian food industry and its communities."

       Fact File

• The main production season for cherries is mid-December to late January

• The WA agriculture and food industry has annual value of around $20 billion at the retail and export level

• For more information, visit http://www.buywesteatbest.org.au  

Minister's office - 6552 5400