Custard apple information kit Reprint – information current in 1998 REPRINT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ! For updated information please call 13 25 23 or visit the website www.deedi.qld.gov.au This publication has been reprinted as a digital book without any changes to the content published in 1998. We advise readers to take particular note of the areas most likely to be out-of-date and so requiring further research: • Chemical recommendations—check with an agronomist or Infopest www.infopest.qld.gov.au • Financial information—costs and returns listed in this publication are out of date. Please contact an adviser or industry body to assist with identifying more current figures. • Varieties—new varieties are likely to be available and some older varieties may no longer be recommended. Check with an agronomist, call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23, visit our website www.deedi.qld.gov.au or contact the industry body. • Contacts—many of the contact details may have changed and there could be several new contacts available. The industry organisation may be able to assist you to find the information or services you require. • Organisation names—most government agencies referred to in this publication have had name changes. Contact the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or the industry organisation to find out the current name and contact details for these agencies. • Additional information—many other sources of information are now available for each crop. Contact an agronomist, Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or the industry organisation for other suggested reading. Even with these limitations we believe this information kit provides important and valuable information for intending and existing growers. This publication was last revised in 1998. The information is not current and the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed by the State of Queensland. This information has been made available to assist users to identify issues involved in custard apple production. This information is not to be used or relied upon by users for any purpose which may expose the user or any other person to loss or damage. Users should conduct their own inquiries and rely on their own independent professional advice. While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this publication. Key issues Key 1 ISSUESISSUESISSUES This section contains more detailed information on some of the important decision-making areas and information needs. Use it in conjunction with Section 3. The information provided is not designed to be a complete coverage of the issue, but instead the key points that need to be known and understood. Keys to making a profit 2 Business management 6 Markets 23 Understanding the tree 31 Selecting varieties 44 Rootstocks 50 Propagation 55 Nutrition 63 Irrigation 77 Training and pruning 88 Pest and disease management 98 Pollination 112 Postharvest 121 Custard apple 2 Key issues Keys to making a profit For most growers, the primary aim of their farming business is to make a profit. The secondary aim is to maximise that profit. This section provides an overview of the key elements in achieving maximum profits. The simple profit equation ........................................................ 2 Maximising returns ................................................................... 2 Minimising costs ...................................................................... 5 The key to profit ....................................................................... 5 The simple profit equation In simple terms, the profit from any enterprise can be expressed as: Profit = returns - costs Maximum profits come from maximising returns and minimising costs. Each has an impact on profit. Maximising returns Returns received from the custard apple enterprise are influenced by: • price received for the product; • volume of product sold. Price received The price received for custard apples is influenced by the: • quality of the fruit on arrival in the market; • market destination of the fruit; • long-term reputation of the product. Fruit quality Quality of custard apples in the marketplace is essentially determined by five factors. They are: Size. The best prices are paid for large fruit of count 13 or larger per single layer tray pack. Cleanliness and appearance. The best prices are paid for fruit that is free from any marks or blemishes that affect appearance. Fruit must Custard apple Key issues 3 also appear to be characteristic of the variety when grown under normal conditions. Flavour. Sweeter flavoured fruit has a tendency to achieve higher prices and repeat sales. Shape. The best prices are paid for fruit that are well-shaped and typical of the variety (Figure 1). Soundness and shelf life. The best prices are paid for fruit that is sound (free from cuts and punctures) and stored properly to maximise shelf life. Figure 1. Good market shape for custard apples; African Pride (left) and Pinks Mammoth These quality characteristics are influenced by several pre and postharvest management practices, some more significantly than others. The impact of these management practices on quality is summarised in Table 1. Table 1. Impact of pre and postharvest management practices on quality of custard apple fruit Custard apple 4 Key issues Market destination Different markets have different price opportunities for the various product types. The key here is to make sure all market options are well researched to match the type of product you can produce (environ- ment and management system) to the best market opportunity. This includes determining the potential competitors and when their prod- uct reaches the market. Reputation A product often receives a higher price because of its past reputation. A product that has been consistent in quality and supply, year after year, is usually bought first and often at the highest price. The development of a good reputation is now highly dependent on the implementation of quality management throughout your entire pro- duction and marketing system. Volume sold The other way of maximising returns is to maximise the volume of fruit produced. The main management factors affecting the volume of fruit harvested and marketed are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Impact of management on volume of fruit produced Variety by age of tree has the biggest impact. For example, whereas Pinks Mammoth trees 10 years and older on 12 m x 12 m spacings have been recorded producing up to 200 kg of fruit, they have also been known to produce little or no fruit. Typical average yields per tree are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Average yields of custard apples per tree (kg) Age (years) 345 6 7 8910 African Pride 10 35 60 70 70 80 80 80 Pinks Mammoth - 4 15 25 50 70 80 100 Where the most productive varieties are already in use, there is little that can be done with existing technology to significantly improve the volume of fruit produced. This effort also involves extra costs. Signifi- cant improvements in productivity depend mainly on the future development of better varieties. Custard apple Key issues 5 Minimising costs The first step in minimising costs is to examine where the major costs are. Typical costs are shown in Table 4. Table 4. Costs of growing and marketing custard apples Cost area Cost per tray ($) Growing fertiliser, chemicals, mulch, irrigation 1.20 labour for growing and pruning 1.30 hand pollination 1.10 Picking and packing picking labour 1.10 packing labour 1.40 packaging (carton and liner etc) 3.25 Marketing freight (domestic) 0.80 levies, inspection and insurance 0.59 commission 1.40 Total costs per tray 12.14 Seventy per cent of the costs are involved in picking, packing and marketing. As it is often difficult to reduce these costs significantly without affecting quality, cost minimisation often has little impact on overall profitability. The key to profit The key to maximising profitability appears to lie in maximising returns. The most effective way of maximising returns appears to be improving the price obtained. Custard apple 6 Key issues Business management Growing custard apples is a business, not a lifestyle. By becoming a custard apple grower you are entering a new business or at least adding a new enterprise to an existing business. In a business, financial and marketing plans are as important as production plans. No matter how good the product, the business will only be successful if it can profitably access markets. Treating a custard apple enterprise as a business involves the development of business and marketing plans, recording farm information, financial management, marketing and control (implementation of quality management systems). Business and marketing plans ................................................... 6 Recording farm information ...................................................... 7 Financial management .............................................................. 8 Marketing ............................................................................... 15 Control (quality management) ................................................ 18 More on the three levels of quality management ..................... 20 Business and marketing plans All businesses need a plan to be successful. A plan helps to focus on what is the core business and what the business hopes to achieve. A business plan is generally