Vocational Visit to Koala Cherries
This week we visited the Koala Cherries at Yarck, as a vocational visit. We were warmly welcomed by Vicki Kennedy, HR Manager, who spoke of the history and ever evolving production of the p
acking shed at Yarck, and Simon Rouget took us into the orchard at Yarck to show the different plantings and harvest expectations.
The cherry orchard was established in 1944 by Reginald Rouget at Wandin in the Yarra Valley, and in 1988 the family moved to Yarck, seeking a drier climate to grow their cherries and establish the processing and distribution side of the business. Now the 3rd generation of Rougets are training the 4th generation the art of nurturing the cherry orchard.
The cherries are grown in 3 regions — Cobram, Strathbogie and Yarck, where the cherries are tree ripened. The trees take 5 years to establish and are viable for 25 years. Weather plays a huge part in a perfect harvest, with rain, hail and frosts at the crucial time being the enemy.
Koala Cherries has a permanent staff of 70, and during the intense 10-12 weeks of picking, packing and distribution the workforce swells to 1200 which include many international backpackers, grey nomads and locals.
The cherries are handpicked, taken straight to the packing shed where they are cooled, graded for size and individually inspected to cull any blemish, including photographed 35 times, ensuring only the finest quality is package for distribution. It's an amazing mechanical process. The cherries are packaged and on the shelves at the supermarkets the next day.
acking shed at Yarck, and Simon Rouget took us into the orchard at Yarck to show the different plantings and harvest expectations.The cherry orchard was established in 1944 by Reginald Rouget at Wandin in the Yarra Valley, and in 1988 the family moved to Yarck, seeking a drier climate to grow their cherries and establish the processing and distribution side of the business. Now the 3rd generation of Rougets are training the 4th generation the art of nurturing the cherry orchard.
The cherries are grown in 3 regions — Cobram, Strathbogie and Yarck, where the cherries are tree ripened. The trees take 5 years to establish and are viable for 25 years. Weather plays a huge part in a perfect harvest, with rain, hail and frosts at the crucial time being the enemy.
Koala Cherries has a permanent staff of 70, and during the intense 10-12 weeks of picking, packing and distribution the workforce swells to 1200 which include many international backpackers, grey nomads and locals.
The cherries are handpicked, taken straight to the packing shed where they are cooled, graded for size and individually inspected to cull any blemish, including photographed 35 times, ensuring only the finest quality is package for distribution. It's an amazing mechanical process. The cherries are packaged and on the shelves at the supermarkets the next day.
A big thank you to Koala Cherries for accommodating our visit and providing a comprehensive overview of the industry which many of us have witnessed grow from their first plantings to a major exporter and huge positive economical impact to Murrindindi Shire. To keep the wheels turning during the off season (9 months) they use their sheds and equipment to process, package and distribute fruit and vege-tables which are imported into Australia.
Our visit to Yarck culminated with a visit to the Yarck Hotel, where we all enjoyed a social catch up over a meal.
Our visit to Yarck culminated with a visit to the Yarck Hotel, where we all enjoyed a social catch up over a meal.
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