But thanks to the hot and dry conditions in the Bathurst region during the past months, fruit lovers are in for a sweet, juicy crop.

The perfect growing conditions were just what the doctor ordered at Yarralee Orchard on Marsden Lane at Kelso.

The first of the peaches are now ripe for the picking, and according to Gerbina Gordon from Yarralee, it’s shaping up as a bumper season.

Gerbina and her husband Tim have run the family business for the past 35 years. They have about 4000 fruit trees of many varieties in their five-hectare orchard.

“Things are looking pretty good so far,” Gerbina said yesterday. “The hot and dry weather and clay soil we have out here are great for stone fruit because it allows good flavours to develop. If you get too much rain, the fruit fills up with water and that dissolves the sugars.

“Then you have to wait for a few days for the moisture to dry out and the sweet flavours to return.”

Gerbina said she knows farmers love the rain and so does she, occasionally.

“But only when it suits us,” she said. “For us, the weather’s been perfect and so far, so good with the stormy weather. It’s the hail that causes damage to the fruit that is the biggest worry.”

While the new-season peaches are ready, the Gordons also grow nectarines, apricots, plumcots and apples.

“The early season apples start in February and the late varieties like Granny Smiths are a bit later in May,” Gerbina said.

“It’s the classical yellow dessert peaches that are ready now, but we recommend the varieties that are ready around January for bottling because they are really sweet and easier to prepare. 

“And for anyone who likes nectarines, the good news is they will be available around the middle of next week.”