The Australian stone fruit industry is 'quite pleased' with the 2019/20 season, which featured increased values, despite several challenges domestically and internationally.

Summerfruit Australia CEO Trevor Ranford noted that different growing areas had some hail in a couple of regions across the season, while others dealt with high water costs, but overall, the industry's production was strong across all of the commodities.

"The industry went into the export season on the back of a record year 2018/19, with over 23,000 tonnes," Mr Ranford said. "There was a level of confidence, particularly in the Chinese market, and growers had come to terms with what they needed to be supplying to get good prices. I think in the first couple of years there were issues surrounding poor quality fruit into the market, but over the past two fruit has been harvested at increased maturity, and a better understanding of the market, especially through people from the industry visiting and building up relationships. While some challenges take the gloss off what we have achieved, it was still a strong year. I think we need to recognise the work of John Moore and Ian McAlister and others who have spent 10 years opening China up for the industry." - Read more of this Fresh Plaza article.