Cherry season has begun in the Hilltops region – so grab your esky and head for the orchards. Photo: Philippa Jean-Mather Brown.
The first boxes of the season are already rolling off the packing lines in Young, marking the official start of cherry harvest across the Hilltops region.
For growers, it’s the culmination of months spent managing frost, wind, heat and, this year, a scarcity of rain, and for visitors, it signals the perfect time to head to the region for pick-your-own cherries, roadside stalls and a taste of the town’s signature summer fruit.
Cherries have a long and proud history in Young, with the first commercial plantings dating back to the 1800s, thanks to a favourable climate, rich soils and a perfect winter chill.
Nikola “Nicholas” Jasprizza, a Croatian migrant, established commercial cherry orchards in Young in the late 1800s, pioneering grafting techniques and planting varieties suited to the region.
By the 1890s, his orchards were extensive, laying the foundation for Young’s commercial cherry industry.
His family continued orchard operations, and his methods influenced future generations of growers.
Over the decades, the town has earned its title as Australia’s ‘Cherry Capital’, with generations of orchardists perfecting and introducing new varieties alongside innovative cultivation techniques.
One of the most famous, Ron’s Seedling, has its roots in Young’s history: in 1928, local fruit inspector SA Thornell created the variety by crossing Noir de Gruben with an Eagle seedling.
It went on to become one of the region’s most widely grown cherries and remains a staple of NSW orchards.
Today, orchards in the Hilltops region are key suppliers to the global cherry market, particularly to Asian destinations such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
The annual National Cherry Festival, launched in 1954, celebrates this heritage in early December, drawing visitors from across the country to enjoy fresh cherries, cherry pies and the town’s festive harvest spirit, which aligns with grain harvest in the region.
Despite a tricky spring, by all reports this year’s cherry crop is shaping up well.
Several cold snaps put early varieties under pressure, slowing ripening, but consistent warmth through October has helped the fruit develop, leaving growers optimistic about a solid, visually appealing harvest.
Among the many cherries on offer in the Hilltops, a few stand out as local favourites.
Simone is one of the region’s signature cherries, prized for its large, glossy appearance and dense, sweet-tart flesh.
Ron’s Seedling, the long-standing favourite created in Young in 1928, remains a reliable, dark red cherry with firm, sweet flesh.
Regina rounds out the trio, offering large, heart-shaped cherries that are crack-resistant and intensely sweet – perfect for enjoying fresh or giving as a gift.
For visitors, these varieties are a must-try when picking your own or browsing farm stalls across the region.
Other varieties on offer out here are:
- Santina – Medium-sized, heart-shaped cherries; crunchy flesh with a sweet, balanced flavour
- Royal Tioga – Large, deep red cherries; very firm and sweet, excellent for packing and gifting
- Hazel – Medium to large dark red cherries; juicy, sweet and long-lasting
- Mitchell – Firm, rich-flavoured cherries, typically harvested mid-season
- Black Star – Deep black-red cherries; visually striking, firm and sweet
- Sylvia – Medium to large dark red cherries; crisp texture and balanced sweetness
- Lapins – Late-mid season, large, heart-shaped cherries; deep red to nearly black, sweet and crack-resistant
- Sweet Georgia – Bright red, juicy cherries with classic summer sweetness; a mutation of Lapins
- Supreme – Large red-black cherries; sweet, firm and traditionally grown in the region
- Stella – Dark red, medium to large cherries; sweet, firm and often sold fresh
- Van – Mid- to late-season variety; firm, sweet cherries with good storage properties
- Sweetheart – Late-season cherries; bright red, sweet and tender, popular for Christmas sales
- Earlise – Early-season variety; small to medium, bright red, sweet and balanced
- Merchant – Early fruiting; medium to large, sweet and crisp. Another pick-your-own favourite.
Young’s streets are also extra alive at this time of year, with bakeries and cafes bursting with cherry pies and the latest craze, cherry ice cream.
Many visitors make the trip an annual tradition, timing their stay to coincide with their preferred cherry varieties, so accommodation fills quickly during November and December.
Motels, farm stays and short-term rentals often book out on weekends.
For those who haven’t yet visited Young during cherry season, the Young Visitor Information Centre, located at the former Young Railway Station, keeps an updated list of orchards open to the public, helping visitors plan their trips efficiently.
A handy map is also available online, to keep you on track.
There’s also a Hilltops Region Facebook page which heralds the latest orchard updates.
Beyond that, all you need to enjoy the Hilltops at its sweetest is a hat, sunscreen, an esky and maybe some insect repellent.
