Australian Fruitgrower APAL’S CEO Report
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YOUR LINK TO INNOVATION CONNECT WITH INDUSTRY, COLLABORATE AND CULTIVATE IDEAS. BECOME A MEMBER NOW. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.HORTICULTURE.COM.AU /MEMBERSHIP. CALL 1300 880 981 FOR MORE INFORMATION. CONTENTS Australian Fruitgrower APAL’s CEO report . 4 Publishers APAL news . 5 Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and provides services to Australia’s commercial apple and pear growers. EVENTS Suite G01, 128 Jolimont Road, Fruit Logistica . .8 East Melbourne VIC 3002 t: (03) 9329 3511 f: (03) 9329 3522 Pink Lady ® exporters’ meeting . .9 w: www.apal.org.au 08 Managing Editor State Roundup . 10 Currie Communications e: [email protected] Technical Editor EXPORT & MARKETING Angus Crawford e: [email protected] A ripe time to export . .12 Hort Innovation marketing update . .15 Online Manager Richelle Zealley PROFILE e: [email protected] Flying high with Lenswood . .18 Advertising The publishers accept no responsibility for the contents of advertisements. All advertisements are 18 accepted in good faith and the liability of advertising content is the responsibility of the advertiser. ORCHARD MANAGEMENT Hyde Media e: [email protected] Labour-saving harvesting . .22 Graphic Design Pome fruit rootstocks . .26 Vale Graphics e: [email protected] POST-HARVEST Post-harvest seminar wrap . .30 Copyright All material in Australian Fruitgrower is copyright. NO material can be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher. R&D update . 34 While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Weather, quiz and crossword . 35 22 contents, APAL accepts no liability for the information. Disclaimer Australian Fruitgrower ’s content is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be suitable for your particular purposes. In particular, APAL is not OUR COVER: James Walters, Lenswood Cold Stores Co-operative Society (read more responsible for any information which is supplied from on page 18). external sources . You should obtain independent expert advice if you are considering relying on any information Edition Booking and Editorial copy deadline Ad material deadline published in Australian Fruitgrower . APAL is not responsible for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by you or Jun/Jul 2017 8 May 2017 15 May 2017 any other person as a result of any error, omission or Aug/Sep 2017 10 July 2017 17 July 2017 misrepresentation in the contents of Australian Fruitgrower . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS APAL would like to thank our partners who provide us APAL’s Australian Fruitgrower magazine is largely funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd with funding and support. using the apple and pear industry levy funds from growers and funds from the Australian Government. www.apal.org.au AUSTRALIAN FRUITGROWER April/May 2017 03 FROM THE CEO Planning for the future By Phil Turnbull CEO, APAL ell, 2017 is certainly in full swing with the first Australia’s international reputation for supplying clean, green round of Future Orchards ® walks now complete produce is one of our key marketing strengths. It’s important Wand harvest well and truly underway. We’ve been to keep this in mind when you receive notification to increase hearing promising reports from growers across the country the Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR) levy (see page 33 ) with many suggesting this is the best season quality-wise from its current rate of zero to 0.05 cents/kilogram for fresh they’ve seen in years. Yield may be down slightly but the domestic and export apples and pears. Under the EPPR levy, quality, colour and flavour are all there. our industry is required to contribute funds to the Varroa jacobsoni and Torres Strait Fruit Fly response plans to help Clearly there has been a lot of small Williams pears harvested eradicate such pests. The APAL Board has proposed to introduc e which have resulted in some very low, unsustainable retail this levy for a minimum of five years and after that period pricing. Whilst APAL respects that commercial arrangements will review the industry’s funding commitments for these will always prevail, efforts to maintain and improve grower and other serious pest threats. If you have any objections or returns are an industry priority, so this kind of discounting require more information about this levy please contact APAL needs to be managed carefully so long term price deflation or your local Director. is avoided. In recent weeks, we’ve welcomed a new Chief Financial Office r, Earlier this year I travelled with APAL’s Chair, Michele Allan Beth Schofield, to the team. Beth has a strong background and members of our commercial team to attend Fruit Logistic a in financial management having worked at Ernst & Young, in Berlin, Germany. This was a great opportunity to support our a global accounting firm for 12 years. Beth was also the commitment to the global Pink Lady ® business and continue CFO and company secretary of Patties Foods Limited and has to strengthen valuable relationships with master licensees recently been working as a consultant while looking after her that have been forged over time by my predecessors. two young children. Beth will work in a part-time capacity and It was also encouraging to see two leading Australian will continue to be supported by APAL’s Accounts Assistant apple and pear businesses Montague and Lenswood Apples Tamara Lefebvre. promoting their export businesses at Fruit Logistica. Increa sing I am still working to finalise APAL’s strategic plan and hope Australia’s apple and pear exports in the future is high on my to share some of the detail and direction, including my vision agenda and in the coming months I look forward to paving the for the industry in the next edition of Australian Fruitgrower . way for increased export volumes across all varieties and brand s. As always, my focus is on adding genuine value to apple and As a start, our commercial team recently hosted a pre-season pear levy payers. I want to ensure a viable, profitable and meeting for current Pink Lady exporters in the APAL office to sustainable future for our growers by prioritising activity that discuss the 2017 Pink Lady export season. makes a difference. :afg HANDMADE QUALITY FRUIT BINS Strong, sturdy construction, protecting your most valuable asset “Frankly, I don’t have time to muck around with inferior products Fumigation (ISPM-15) available for export purposes, compliance stamped and erratic supply. Particularly when it comes to the bins we need to rely on at harvest time.” Sustainable, certified, A-grade, SA-grown timber “That’s why I’m standing here looking happy. I’ve been buying my Low carbon footprint, with no dyes, bins from Barossa Enterprises for over a decade now. Consistent chemicals or bleaches quality, sturdy construction and reliable supply equals value for Supporting the employment of People money in anyone’s language. And peace of mind for me!” with Disability “There’s another thing too – they’re locally made by People with Disability, sourced from SA-grown, certified plantation timber. And that ticks a lot of extra boxes in my book.” 04 AUSTRALIAN FRUITGROWER April/May 2017 www.apal.org.au APAL NEWS Washington State apple and pear production study tour Growers will have a chance to take a first-hand look at new technologies and approaches to orcha rd management used by progressive producers in the United States on a forthcoming APAL study tour of Washington State, USA, in August. APAL Technical Manager Angus Crawford ing the industry remains strong and • The extensive post-harvest research said the 10-day tour would take in robotic profitable in the long term. program. harvesting, automated pack sheds, APAL is offering growers the unique Attendees will pay just the cost of mechanisation, hedging, Darwin thinning , opportunity to visit the region and is participating including their own airfares , nursery production, pest and disease currently seeking expressions of interes t accommodation and other arrangements management, and many other new from growers. Numbers will be limited necessary for the trip. technologies not yet seen in Australia. to 15 participants and the program will Organisation and delivery of this study Places are limited and the final itinerary develop based on the interests of the tour is part of the Apple and Pear will be tailored to match the specific participants. Tour dates are likely to be Innovation and Adoption program that interests of attendees. Monday, 14 August – Wednesday, 23 delivers Future Orchards ® and many August timed for the commencement “Some of the best Australian growers other activities for the industry. It is of their Gala harvest. are also the ones who have travelled funded by Horticulture Innovation extensively overseas to learn the most up Australia has a solid network of both Australia Limited using the research and to date technologies and practices being Washington State growers and RD&E development apple and pear levy and used by their overseas counterparts,” personnel which will ensure a strong funds from the Australian Government. Angus said. program throughout the tour. In addition If you would like to know more or to visiting growers the tour will look at: Washington State produces 70 per cent simply register your interest please of apple production in the USA and is a • New technologies not yet available contact Angus Crawford at the APAL major exporter. It is also home to some in Australia. office on 03 9329 3511 or the most innovative and progressive [email protected]. • Trials in new rootstocks, new varieties , :afg growers in the world, backed by world netting, pruning, pears, pollination class research, development and exten - and spraying technology.