Machine harvesting is going to shape the future of the Australian apple and pear industries, and could reduce manual harvesting costs by half according to information from the latest round of Future Orchards walks being part run by Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL). “In Orange [for example], growers got to see new shaking and harvesting equipment that is making harvesting juicing apples much easier and more efficient. The harvester has only recently been purchased by the Appledale Cooperative, who estimate it may reduce their harvesting costs by 50 per cent,” says John Dollisson, CEO of APAL. Mechanisation can also help maintain fruit quality and efficiency, according to APAL’s Technical Manager, and Future Orchards manager, Angus Crawford.
The walks, held over two weeks, explain knowledge and technology to growers. The Southern Loop walks held on four days this week, starting Monday March 23. The Northern Loop walks concluded on Friday, March 20, and included the topic ‘what can this season teach us?.’ So far attendance is good according to Mr Dollisson. “Last week’s Future Orchards walks were very successful and attended by key local orchardists in each region. In most regions 20-30 people attended.” The topic, mechanisation, was well received by growers according to Mr Dollisson, and feedback on the presentations was good.
One of the first talks was presented by returning special guest Karen Lewis, a fruit extension specialist from Washington State University.
One speaker who was lined up to attend could not make it in the end. Mauricio Frias, a private horticultural consultant based in Chile specialising in apples, pears, cherries and kiwifruit, was replaced at the Orange walk by Trevor Suslow from the University of California (Davis) who spoke about the increasingly important issue of food safety and hygiene inside packing houses.
The Northern and Southern loops refer to key apple and pear growing regions within Australia. The Northern Loop encompasses Shepparton (Victoria), Batlow (New South Wales), Orange (New South Wales) and Stanthorpe (Queensland). The Southern Loop encompasses Gippsland (Victoria), Huon Valley (Tasmania), Lenswood (South Australia) and Manjimup (Western Australia). The Future Orchards walks are organised with international guest speakers attending, and run in conjunction with AgFirst, APAL and Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd.
For more information
Apples and Pears Australia Limited
Phone: + 61 3 9329 3511
E-mail: info@apal.org.au
Website: www.apal.org.au