Australia is looking at a high-quality crop of apples and pears, with the overall crop forecast to be 12 per cent higher than the 2014 season at 416,000 tonnes, according to Apple and Pear Australia (Apal).
“The forecast shows that we can expect around 15 per cent more apples and about 4 per cent more pears compared to last year,” said Apal CEO John Dollisson. “We are hoping that good weather and growing conditions prevail and the crop forecast is realised, but there is still the change the crop could be reduced if we experience any fire, bird, heat or hail damage.”
Grower-packers in Australia’s pear heartland, the Goulburn Valley, told Fruitnet that apple and pear crops are looking excellent this season, with some apple varieties tipped to produce record crops.
Calling it the “luck of the draw”, Owen Carter at Plunkett Orchards said it has been a good season with ideal, cool conditions two weeks before harvest began – a fair change from the hot, dry days that the Goulburn Valley experienced in late January last year.
“Gala volumes are up by 20-25 per cent,” said Carter, adding that Plunkett Orchards is also looking at a solid pear crop, with its exports to Canada kicking off with its early season pears.
Freshmax Australia has forecast a record Pink Lady crop this season, and a record year not too far off for its Gala apples as well.
“We’ve been increasing our Pink Lady hectares in the past 10 years, and are planting higher colour strains with a better packout, so we’re seeing more boxes of Class 1 fruit, and more cartons per bin,” said Freshmax Australia national business manager Andrew Maughan. “The challenge this season is that the global apple market is not great.”
Export outlook
Not only is Australia looking at an increase in apple and pear volumes, but the crop is forecast to be high-quality, ‘Class 1’ fruit, said Dollission, meaning Apal would be focusing its efforts on export markets.
“The ongoing commitment of growers to improve their business practices and become more efficient and competitive is clearly demonstrated in this year’s yield forecast,” said Dollisson. “Australia’s fruit growers are recognised as being among the best in the world in regards to quality and safety. Ongoing support to ensure they have access to the latest research and technology to support their contribution to Australia’s economy is vital.”
A focus on improving yields has been demonstrated in this season’s forecast with fruit harvested per hectare up from 29 tonnes per hectare in 2014 to 33 tonnes per hectare in 2015.
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