CHERRY PITTER

A cherry pitter is disclosed which includes a pitting station at which a cherry 88 is supported over an opening 82 of a size to allow passage of a pit 85 but not the cherry 88. A pit ejector reciprocable across the station to press into and through a cherry 82 at the station is provided and pushed the pit 85 through the flesh of the cherry and out through the opening 82, the pit ejector comprising an elongate punch having a number of arms radiating out from its longitudinal axis along which it is reciprocable, each arm having a pointed tip 60 spaced outwardly from its axis 58 and an end 62 incline so that the end of the punch has a hollow centre, at least some of the arms 50, 52, 54 having an undercut portion 66 of the same order of axial length as a typical cherry along their length.