Australian Nurserymen's Fruit Improvement Company announces new members

The Australian Nurserymen's Fruit Improvement Company (ANFIC) Ltd is pleased to introduce its two newest member nurseries; Hansen Orchards located in Tasmania (ex-Forest Home Nursery’s license) and Cherry Rootstocks Australia Pty Ltd (ex-Neerim Hi-Plains Growers (D&Y Pike) license) based in Victoria.

As a fourth generation fruit grower from Tasmania, Howard Hansen, CEO of Hansen Orchards, produces high quality cherries and apples for a premium market. In the early 1990’s, Hansen Orchards made the decision to expand their orchard from apples into cherry production. Tasmania has a competitive advantage with its climate allowing access to later season international markets. Cherry production now represents 70 per cent of Hansen Orchards business. The recent purchase of a license to be a member of ANFIC will enable Hansen Orchards to access earlier some of the newest varieties of apples, cherries and rootstocks from around the world.
Stephen and Glenn Riseborough of Cherryhill Orchards in Victoria, which are one of the largest fresh cherry producers in Australia, are the growers behind Cherry Rootstocks Australia Pty Ltd in association with fellow grower Jon Gaudion of Cherry King in Griffith, NSW. Established in 1940, Cherryhill is a third generation grower and one of Australia’s foremost and long established cherry producers. Jon, a third generation cherry farmer, expanded production to include Hillston NSW, a warmer environment, which results in an earlier supply of cherries to the market. The Hillston Nursery produces trees and rootstocks, currently producing in excess of 50,000 cherry trees annually for their farms and licensed contracted growers.

ANFIC is a not-for-profit Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization Company for new fruit varieties and rootstocks with access to a network of twelve progressive nursery members throughout Australia. The company has worked with new fruit varieties and rootstocks for Australian fruit industries since 1983. ANFIC’s goal is to undertake, promote and further the improvement, import and export of fruit varieties and rootstocks to the horticultural industry and has positioned its business to be innovators and leaders in new methods of product introductions, which in many cases are also managed globally.

For more information:
Dr Gavin Porter
ANFIC
Tel: +61 07- 3491 9905
Email: info@anfic.com.au
www.anfic.com.au