One of Australia's leading stone fruit producers is set to increase its market diversification following the planting of new varieties from Israel.

 Throughout December over 20,000 of the new plum trees from Ben Dor were planted, which are exclusive to Cutri Fruit. They will run counter seasonal to other forms of stone fruit, and could be on the market by 2020.
"We will be harvesting fruit when there is no other stone fruit on the Australian market," Marketing Manager Nicole Cutri said.  "They are also a new category of super-sweet plums that we can offer to our customers. The new varieties will taste better than what we have on the market, the varieties are innovative in colour and flavour, not to mention the health benefits."  Read more of this Fresh Plaza article.......

Recent weather events in the major stone fruit growing regions, have not affected the optimism of the industry nationally, with volumes still on track to be higher than in the previous year.


Andrew Finlay is a grower at Pikes Creek Orchard near Stanthorpe in Queensland and also Chairman of Summerfruit Australia and he says the outlook for this year is looking really good, especially in his part of the country.
"Growing conditions have been good – significantly better than last year, it’s almost like a different country," he said. "There will be plenty of options and varieties for consumers to enjoy, with strong brix levels – in Queensland, we’re seeing 16.5 – 19.5 brix, so the sweetness should be up there. There are plenty of varieties still to come, so we’re looking forward to a strong season."  Read more of this Fresh Plaza article.........

South Australian farmers whose fruit crops were damaged by heavy storms are getting a $500,000 lifeline from the SA government to help salvage their damaged harvest.

Hailstones caused significant damage to 95 per cent of apples and pears in the Adelaide Hills region in October and Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell says the money will go towards juicing equipment so damaged fruit does not go to waste.

"Without assistance, it could have been an absolutely devastating harvest next March and the flow on effects would have been really damaging to the scores of growers," Mr Bignell said.  Read more of this article.....

 

Media Release

Fruitful trade meeting with China

​9 November 2017​

• Australia and China agreed to protocols providing market access for the first time for Aussie peaches, plums and apricots and improved access for cherries, table grapes, and citrus.
• Protocols were signed at a High-level Dialogue between Australian and Chinese officials in Sydney today.​

Australian horticulture producers and exporters received a boost today, with Australia and China agreeing to new market access protocols for peaches, plums and apricots and improved access for Australian cherries, table grapes and citrus.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Luke Hartsuyker, said the new agreements will deliver practical and commercially viable export opportunities for Australia's summerfruit producers and exporters.

"Opening and improving agricultural market access is a priority for the Coalition Government, as exports underpin the profitability of our agriculture sector and support valuable farmgate returns," Minister Hartsuyker said.

"These agreements with China will support new and improved market access for a range of valuable and important Australian horticulture commodities and will complement the access already achieved for Australian nectarines.

"It means Australian peaches, plums and apricots will soon be joining Australian nectarines on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets and greengrocers, just in time for the upcoming export season, and as a result of tariff cuts under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement—Australia's horticultural exports will be even more competitive."

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said China is one of Australia's most important trading partners and this is welcome news for our $9 billion horticulture industry as a whole.

THE  Australian horticulture industry wants employers who exploit backpackers to be stripped of their rights to access foreign workers.

Nine horticulture industry peak bodies urged revoking the rights of some employers in a recent submission to the Department of Immigration inquiry into work visas.

It comes after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s announcement in April that scrapped the 457 visa for skilled migrants, and subsequently the Government announced it planned to reduce number of visa classes from 99 to about 10.  Read more of this Weekly Times article......

THE nectarine harvest is looming and Australian growers have been encouraged by research indicating there is a market in China for both white and yellow flesh varieties.

Until recently, China-based importers had instructed exporters of Australian grown nectarines there was demand only for low acid white flesh nectarines.

Read more of this Weekly Times article........