When to Order Your Cherries for Christmas
By Carla Munn | E-commerce Manager at Pure Otago Direct
TL;DR (Quick Answer): Order your Christmas cherries as soon as our shop opens in the second week of October. Christmas demand is very high and our cherries frequently sell out before December on our pre-sale model. Ordering early is the only way to guarantee a Christmas delivery slot — waiting is genuinely the biggest reason people miss out.
Every year, without fail, we get the same message in mid-December: "Are there really no big cherries left for Christmas?" And every year, we have to answer honestly — yes, we sold out weeks ago. Cherries for Christmas are one of NZ's most in-demand seasonal products, and Central Otago growing volumes for December are limited. So here's everything you need to know about timing your Christmas cherry order.
When does the Pure Otago Cherries online shop open each year?
Our online shop usually opens in the second week of October each year. That's when pre-orders go live for the full season — from the earliest December delivery dates right through to mid-late January. Signing up to our mailing list, or joining a wait list is the easiest way to make sure you don't miss opening day, because our first-week orders are always the highest volume of the year.
What's the deadline for ordering cherries for Christmas Day delivery?
Assuming stock hasn't already sold out, our usual pre-Christmas cut-off for orders is between the 15th and 17th of December — but the exact date shifts each year based on how the Christmas public holidays fall. The safe bet is: don't wait for the cut-off. December volumes almost always sell out before we reach the deadline anyway.
Which December delivery dates sell out first?
Two dates go the fastest every single year:
- The first available delivery date in December (usually mid-December) — cherry lovers who've been waiting since January can't help themselves
- The last available delivery date before Christmas — for people ordering as gifts or to have on hand for Christmas Day itself
If either of these dates matter to you, treat October like Boxing Day sales and get in early.
Do you ever open extra Christmas delivery dates once original slots sell out?
Highly unlikely. December cherry volumes across all of Central Otago are limited — the main harvest comes on in January, not December. So when a December delivery date sells out, it's genuinely sold out. That said — never say never! If Mother Nature delivers an unexpected early ripening, we'll do our best to open more slots. But we can't promise it.
What happens if I order too late for Christmas — can I still get January delivery?
With pleasure! Our online store stays open through to mid-January every year, and January is actually where our biggest volumes are. Plus, if you missed the Christmas boat, you can use our Multi-Buy Deal to grab a second January box at 30% off. It softens the "no Christmas cherries" blow considerably. 🍒
What's the earliest Christmas delivery date available each year?
We usually start shipping cherries around 15th December, but this is highly weather-dependent and shifts year to year. Warm springs mean earlier harvests; cool wet springs push things later. We don't like to lock in an exact earliest date until we see how the season is developing.
Do you offer a "guaranteed by Christmas" delivery promise?
We shy away from making guarantees, and here's the honest reason: cherries are a highly perishable fruit that's incredibly vulnerable to weather conditions. Between hail, rain events, courier delays, and the sheer Christmas parcel surge, there are just too many variables we don't control.
But here's what we do promise:
- We use NZ Post's perishable goods service, which is prioritised over all other freight — so if there's a delay, we're at the front of the queue
- We do our absolute best to deliver on or around your chosen date.
- In our history of running Pure Otago Direct, it's been genuinely rare that we haven't got a Christmas customer's cherries to them before Christmas
So while we don't say "guaranteed," we say something better: we take it really seriously, and our track record backs that up.
The Bottom Line
The single best thing you can do to secure your Christmas cherries is order early. October is not too early — it's exactly the right time. December is too late. If you're already too late for December, embrace January and grab a Multi-Buy discount while you're at it.
Whatever you do — don't wait until you see cherries advertised in supermarkets. By then, ours are usually long gone. 🍒
