By Derek Schlennstedt
Few things in life compare with the taste of freshly hand-picked fruit and a newly picked peach or mandarin is considered one of life’s little pleasures.
That’s how Len Rayner, owner of Rayner’s Orchard in Woori Yallock, describes it.
“If you’ve ever eaten a tree-ripened peach you’ll know” he says.
“The juice runs down your chin, you have to bend over to eat it, it’s like a big ball of juice with a little bit of fibre and the flavour is just superb – everything about it is just superb.”
This spring, rather than strolling down busy aisles at the supermarket wander down beautiful blossoming orchard rows and get fresh produce that is literally ripe for the picking.
The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are brimming with fresh fruit picking opportunities, and there’s no better time than spring time to enjoy the large range of produce that the valley has to offer.
Experience the succulent and juicy taste of ripe fruit taken straight from the tree. With oranges, mandarins, kiwi fruit, inca berries, strawberries, raspberries and tamarillos all coming into season, U-Pick farms have a huge variety of fruit for everyone to try.
Rayner’s Orchard offers U-Pick as part of their orchard tours where you get to see the entire fruit picking process first-hand and as Len describes it go on a “fruit adventure”.
With over 450 different varieties of fruit and at least eight different types available every day of the year, Rayner’s Orchard always has produce available for visitors to enjoy.
“It’s more than just U-Pick” says Len, “it’s a fruit adventure.”
Only an hour from Melbourne the Yarra Valley offers a fun family filled day, many of the U-Pick farms have farm cafes where you can enjoy a range of jams, desserts and fresh fruits while soaking up the warm spring sun.
Rejuvenate this spring by enjoying a tasty day out in the Dandenongs and the Yarra Valley.
