McNab Orchards owner and Fruit Growers Victoria chair Mitchell McNab.
The fruit season is almost over, with Pink Lady apples being the last to leave the trees, but growers are facing key issues.
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McNab Orchards owner and Fruit Growers Victoria chair Mitchell McNab said the season was wrapping up on a good note.
“I’ve got only one main variety of apples left, the Pink Ladies, to pick and harvest, but we’ve had a pretty reasonable year in terms of yields and qualities,” Mr McNab said.
“We’ve had a hotter growing season and harvest this year then we have the last couple, which has had its challenges at times.”
McNab Orchards at Ardmona specialises in apples, pears and stone fruit and, from what Mr McNab can tell, it’s been a successful harvest.
“I think yields are going to be up a little bit, but not substantially,” he said.
“This year we have a very varying size profile of fruit, which will mean we have more options to sell to different markets.”
He said the biggest issue the fruit industry was facing was with the major retailers and supermarkets.
“There has been some reasonable scrutiny on retailers, in terms of price gouging.
“There have been the inquiries, we’ve had results from each of those and hopefully, with the new government being formed in the near future, we can have some outcomes.”
Redland head of marketing and sales Jordan Bain.
Talking about the current market, Redland head of marketing and sales Jordan Bain said it had been been a good year.
“It’s been reasonably strong,” he said.
“The Pink Lady crop really dictates the overall market in totality in Australia, so you know we’re only just getting into harvest now, but it appears that there’s a reasonable crop of Pink Lady out there compared to last year.”
Mr Bain said one of his main concerns in the fruit industry was the rising costs businesses were facing.
“Look, I think most people would say to you that certainly the rising cost of just doing business in general,” he said.
“Technology is always kept up in business, in particular in the fresh produce landscape to help offset operational cost ... but it appears that cost is rising quicker now and the ability for technology and these sorts of things to keep up to help offset that cost is not necessarily there.”
He said the other issue was access to the market, saying there was very little.
“There’s a lack of market access around the world from an export perspective” and it was a challenge for Australia “to be any type of key exporter in the apple category”.
“That’s something which needs to be addressed in multiple areas across the industry.
“We get it right, the future could be really bright for the industry, but get it wrong, and it could be a real struggle.”
Fruit Growers Victoria growers services manager Michael Crisera said although the weather was impacting the fruit, taste was not a worry.
“We’re hoping for better prices for this year than last year,” Mr Crisera said.
“It’s been a difficult year with colour, as a very warm autumn has an impact on our colour.
“The eating quality of fruit is going to be really good, very sweet.”
He echoed Mr Bain’s comments, saying one of the issues he’s seen is the cost of running a business.
“The main thing is the increased cost of doing business,” Mr Crisera said.
“From the government to the fair work and labour increases, it’s really important that suppliers hold strong and price so that everybody has a chance of being profitable.”
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