Hawke's Bay berry farmers are reaping the harvest after cold weather meant an anxious wait.
Hanna Berry Farm, Hastings owner Shelley Hanna said berry growers were anxious a few weeks ago.
"For a while there we were a bit worried there wouldn't be enough berries for Christmas because the weather's been cold," she said.
"Now that its started to get warmer there will be plenty for Christmas."
"The hardest part has been bringing on pickers in time for Christmas: it's been a bit of a rush this week to get them up to speed."
Ms Hanna said this season the farm's frozen berries were popular, following on from the "panic" over berries imported from China.
Chantal Pallot and her partner have been working on Hanna Berry Farm for the past week-and-a-half, in exchange for accommodation and food.
They were contacted through World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
"Bruce and Shelley have been just amazing," Ms Pallot said.
"There are lots of berries ... we are up at 6am to pick them."
She said while the work was a "bit tough" they were enjoying learning new skills and meeting new people.
They are from Lincoln, England, and have been making their way down the North Island for three months.
"It's been great, it's just beautiful here," Ms Pallot said.
They are getting used to having sun in December and spending their first Christmas away from home but say the beautiful backdrop of the Bay will be a stunning setting in which to spend it.
Kirsten's Corner cherry grower Glenn Wilson said the harvest had also been a bit slow because of cold weather.
Now, harvesting their two hectares of cherries was going smoothly.
Cherry growth had to be sped up, or there wouldn't have been many for Christmas.
"I had to look at [the weather] and make the decision whether to use some of our growing strategies or not," Mr Wilson said.
The cherry harvest continues until mid-January.