Cherry season has officially kicked off at Forest Lodge Orchard, and we started with something extra special—our Rainier cherries! These beauties are Central Otago’s first cherries of the summer, ripening just in time for Christmas.

If you managed to get your hands on a box, you’ll know why we’re so excited about them. They’re sweet, crisp, and bursting with flavour, with their signature golden-yellow skin and a beautiful red blush. And best of all? No red juice stains! These are the ultimate kid-friendly cherry, perfect for snacking without worrying about streaks down their chins (or all over the furniture).

Why Rainier Cherries Are So Special

Rainier cherries are notoriously tricky to grow, which is why you don’t see many of them around. They’re more delicate than your typical deep-red cherry—prone to wind damage, easy to bruise, and sensitive to sun exposure. Because of this, many growers don’t bother with them.

But here at Forest Lodge, we’ve figured out the secret. Our wind protection system and carefully trained UFO trees keep the cherries safe, allowing them to ripen beautifully without damage. And it’s working—last year, our Rainiers were called the best the industry had ever seen!

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The First Harvest of the Season

Harvesting Rainiers is a careful process. Unlike other cherries, they need to be picked with extreme care to avoid bruising. Each picker moves tree by tree, bucket by bucket, placing the cherries gently in the shade before they’re whisked away in one of our electric vehicles to the packhouse. And yes—you read that right. Just like the rest of our operation, our cherry transport is 100% electric. From picking to packing, these cherries are grown and harvested without a drop of fossil fuel.

A Christmas Cherry Like No Other

Rainier cherries are rare, and having them available before Christmas is even rarer. Most Central Otago cherries don’t ripen until after New Year, so these are a true holiday treat. If you managed to order some, we hope you enjoyed every bite! They’re sweet, juicy, and packed with flavour—perfect for Christmas platters, summer desserts, or just eating straight from the box.

Want to Try Them Next Year?

And if you missed out this time? Keep an eye out for next year’s harvest—because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that Rainier cherries from New Zealand’s first fully electric orchard are something pretty special. 🍒⚡ Make sure you’re signed up to our mailing list so you don’t miss out on our pre-Christmas Rainier cherry deliveries next season!

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Check out forestlodge.nz for updates.

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