A program aimed at securing the future of the apple and pear industry is helping Stanthorpe growers lift their orchard productivity to world competitiveness.
The Future Orchards program, a flagship of Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL), starts in Stanthorpe tomorrow and will help provide growers with the right tools to become world’s best.
APAL managing director Jon Durham said, with the impending arrival of apple imports, growers now need to change the way they manage and market their products in order to become internationally competitive.
“If Australia really wants to become the ‘fruit bowl of Asia’ then together as an industry we need to look for new ways to improve the quality of our products — including lowering production costs,” Mr Durham said.
“The Future Orchard program can achieve this by transitioning growers to proven best practice orchard management techniques.
“This not only improves product quality and productivity but it helps protect the future of the Australian apple and pear industry, which is of vital importance to regional Australia,” he said.
Now in its sixth year, the revitalised Future Orchards program includes a Focus Orchard Network to demonstrate new technology, dedicated regional frontline advisors, and the OrchardNet block monitoring tool.
“I’m confident our refreshed approach to the Future Orchards program will generate greater commitment by local growers. More than ever we need to work together to build a prosperous pathway forward and secure the industry’s future in both the domestic and international markets,” Mr Durham said.
The Future Orchards program visited northeast Victoria on Monday followed by Batlow in New South Wales Tuesday and Orange in New South Wales yesterday.
For further information, contact APAL technical manager Jesse Reader on 0419 107 245 or email tm@apal.org.au
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