WESTERWAY Raspberry Farms are gearing up for their fruit picking season and they’re expecting the rains to bring a bumper crop.

Richard Clarke, who manages the Derwent Valley orchards alongside his family said he was expecting a busy season, with workers already primed for picking.

Having started their early raspberry and strawberry sales at the Salamanca and Farm Gate markets last weekend, the season picks up momentum quickly.

“We’re going to open the shed for the first time this week and by the second weekend of December, we will be pumping,” Mr Clark said.

The wet spring has delayed the start of the season somewhat.

“You don’t get the coldest day in November in 70 years and expect an early season.

A wet summer the critical time for fungus and mould.”

Mr Clark said their earlier start and unique harvesting machinery meant they usually have their harvest underway before other orchards.

Westerway Farms harvest around 90 per cent of their fruit mechanically, amounting to between four and six tonnes per day.

You don’t get the coldest day in November in 70 years and expect an early season means more mould issues, luckily we’ve had enough breaks in the weather to get our sprays in during the flowering period, which is the critical time for fungus and mould.”

Mr Clark said their earlier start and unique harvesting machinery meant they usually have their harvest underway before other orchards.

Westerway Farms harvest around 90 per cent of their fruit mechanically, amounting to between four and six tonnes per day.