Young has become famous for
the magnificent cherries which have been produced in the district
since the mid 1800's. Many producers have found value adding the
fruit into jams, preserves and other products such as wines to
be very profitable. |
The first cherry
trees were planted at Young in 1847 by Edward Taylor and in 1878
Nicole Jasprizza started conducting grafting experiments to produce
a "good cherry".
By the 1890's
Flourens, Napoleons, Bigarroux and Marguerite had all been developed
and Mr Jasprizza kept grafting old varieties until he had 7,000
old cherry trees, 3,000 young ones and 5,000 in the nursery stage.
On Jasprissa's
untimely death aged 75 in 1901, his sons took over the orchard
and continued over the years to gain the admiration of the district
with beautiful blossoms adorning the rolling hills which surround
Young in spring time, from which the Cherry Festival was born
commencing as a "Blossom Carnival".
At first cherries
were sold locally but when the railway opened, Young's early cherries
captured the Sydney market. By 1908 15,000 cases were being consigned
annually and the 50 pickers for the season, picked until 4pm daily
when they packed to catch the evening train for Sydney where the
cherries were sold the following morning.
The following year
the orchard was claimed as the largest in the colony of Australia.
Sixteen tons daily
being packed in the season.
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