An Australian pineapple grower expects to have more fruit on the market than usual this winter.
Piñata Farms says pineapples are not typically thought of as a winter fruit, but this year the good growing conditions in recent weeks have allowed more fruit to grow, which should be on the market in 6-8 weeks.
"Demand usually slows down as the weather cools," Managing Director Gavin Scurr said. "But winter (this year) following the ferocious storm and the summer flowering harvest through June-July, there will be a bit more fruit in that period than normally."
While volumes across the industry have been similar to last year, the hot summer has meant that maturity is running a little earlier than normal for this time of year, however fruit size is "fairly typical". According to Piñata Farms, the cyclone helped put growing conditions back on track.
"Cyclone Debbie came through about five to six weeks ago now and dropped a heap of rain," Mr Scurr said. "But other than that we haven't had a lot of rain. It's been a hot and dry summer. Since then the cyclone the weather has returned to normal."
The Australian pineapple market only supplies domestic markets, with prices remaining consistent with previous years.
Piñata Farms also produce Honey Gold Mangoes and strawberries. Piñata pineapples are grown at opposite ends of Queensland - Mareeba in the north and Wamuran in the south - as well as Darwin in the Northern Territory, which has seen different weather over summer.
"It's been fairly wet, they have had a wet summer," Mr Scurr said. "So we are pretty happy with how they have coped. We've only been up there for three years and in production for two. But the summer they've had has been the third wettest on record and they've come through it well, so that's encouraging."
For more information:Gavin Scurr
Pinata Farms Pty Ltd
Phone: +617 5497 4295