The State’s apple growing areas have faced a number of problems – from a cold spring at Orange to a black frost at Batlow to a lack of water at Forbes on the drying Lachlan River.

Nonetheless, there are some reports of good quality in the countdown to the harvest in early 2010.

Towac Fruit Export director, Peter McClymont, Orange, said a cold spring had affected pollination and fruit was “not all bunched up”.

But he said the quality was

looking very good, though it would be a reduced crop from last year.

Full story in The Land, December 31.