Is there anything that tastes more like a Kiwi Christmas than a bowl of cherries? Dark, glossy and sweet, eaten by the handful in the sun, with sticky fingers and a little pile of stalks on the table.

New Zealand cherries have one of the shortest seasons of any fruit we sell, which is part of what makes them so special. Here's everything you need to know about cherry season in NZ: when it starts, where the best cherries come from, how to keep them fresh, and how to order Christmas cherries delivered to your door.

In short

NZ cherry season runs from late November to around February. The first cherries of the season come from warmer regions like Hawke's Bay, with Central Otago's main harvest following later in December. Twisted Citrus cherries are grown in Hawke's Bay, packed in Gisborne and dispatched from 1 December 2026. Keep them in the fridge and enjoy them within three to four days.

Cherry season in New Zealand starts in late November and runs through to around February, depending on the region and the weather. The earliest cherries usually arrive just in time for Christmas, which is why they've become such a part of the Kiwi summer table.

Every season is a little different. A warm spring can bring the first pick forward by a week or so, and a wet one can hold it back. Cherries are picked ripe and don't ripen any further once they're off the tree, so growers wait until the fruit is just right. 

Where do cherries grow in New Zealand?

Central Otago is New Zealand's best-known cherry region, and Central Otago cherries make up around 90% of the country's crop. Its hot summer days and cold nights suit cherries beautifully. Cherries are also grown in Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Canterbury.

Hawke's Bay's warmer climate means its cherries are among the first to ripen each year. That makes them perfect for Christmas, when Central Otago's main harvest is often only just getting going.

Our Hawke's Bay cherries

Our cherries come from a Hawke's Bay orchard we've been working with for three years. They're large, dark, firm and glossy, and picked at peak ripeness. We pack every order by hand in Gisborne with an ice pack, so they arrive cool and in perfect condition.

Cherry varieties in NZ

New Zealand growers plant a range of cherry varieties so the season can stretch from late November into February. Early varieties ripen first and later ones follow into the new year. Most are the deep red, sweet cherries we all picture at Christmas, alongside a few blush-skinned varieties such as Rainier, which are pale gold with a pink flush.

How to store cherries

Put cherries in the fridge as soon as they arrive and enjoy them within three to four days. Cherries stay freshest cold and dry, so:

Keep them unwashed in the fridge, and wash them just before eating.

Leave the stalks on until you're ready to eat them.

Take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving, as they taste sweeter when they're not fridge-cold.

Can you freeze cherries?

Yes. Wash and dry them, remove the pips, then spread them out on a lined tray and freeze. Once they're frozen, tip them into a bag or container. Frozen cherries are lovely in smoothies, baking and sauces, or dropped straight into a glass of bubbles.

How to pit cherries without a pitter

Sit a cherry on the neck of an empty bottle and push a chopstick or a sturdy straw through the stalk end. The pip drops neatly into the bottle and the cherry stays whole.

Are cherries good for you?

Cherries are a natural source of fibre, potassium and a little vitamin C. Their deep red colour comes from anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant also found in other dark fruit. You can read more in our guides to fruit with the highest vitamin C and what antioxidants are. Most of us need no excuse to eat them, though.

Cherry recipe ideas for Christmas

Good cherries need very little done to them. A few of our favourite ways to share them:

Piled high on the Christmas pavlova, with a little lime zest grated over the top.

On the cheeseboard, next to a sharp cheddar and a few squares of dark chocolate.

In a fresh salsa with red onion, mint and lime, spooned over glazed ham.

Frozen and dropped into a glass of bubbles or a summer spritz.

Straight from the bowl, of course, with a little dish on the table for the stones.

How to order cherries online for Christmas

You can order cherries online now for delivery from early December. Cherries are sold by the punnet (about 1kg each), in 1kg, 2kg and 4kg orders, from $59.

Choose your dispatch date. Cherries are sent on 1, 8 or 15 December. The first pick can come a week earlier if the weather's kind.

Packed with care. Every punnet is packed in Gisborne with an ice pack and sent by NZ Post tracked courier.

Delivery times. Overnight to most of the North Island and Christchurch, two days to the rest of the South Island, plus a day for rural addresses.

Love Your Fruit Guarantee. If you're not happy with your cherries, let us know within 48 hours and we'll replace them or refund you in full. No need to send them back.
Ordering more than 40 in one order, for a team or an event? Get in touch and we'll look after you.

Christmas cherry gift boxes

Cherries make a beautiful Christmas gift, and they're one of the few presents everyone at the table can share.

Christmas Cherry Gift Box (1kg $99, 2kg $145). Fresh Hawke's Bay cherries in our premium gift box, with an ice pack and a free Whittaker's mini slab.

Cherry & Chocolate Gift Box ($115). Cherries with a full-size block of Whittaker's chocolate.

Cherry & Wine Gift Box ($135). Cherries with a bottle of Gisborne-grown Matawhero wine.

Looking for more ideas? Browse all our Christmas gifts or read our Christmas gift ideas guide.

Cherry FAQs

When can I buy NZ cherries for Christmas?
You can pre-order now. Our first cherries are dispatched from 1 December 2026, with further dispatch dates on 8 and 15 December.

How long do fresh cherries last?
Kept in the fridge, fresh cherries are best eaten within three to four days of arriving.

Do you deliver cherries nationwide?
Yes. We send cherries anywhere in New Zealand by tracked courier, packed with an ice pack to keep them cool on the way.

Can I send cherries as a gift?
Yes. Our cherry gift boxes come beautifully packed, and you can add a personal message at checkout.

Where are Twisted Citrus cherries grown?
Our cherries are grown in Hawke's Bay and packed by hand in Gisborne.

Cherry season is short, so make the most of it. Buy cherries online and taste summer at its best.