Prepared by NZ based consultancy Agfirst and funded by Hort Innovation, the Estimate has forecast an Australian 2018 pomefruit crop of 413,082t compared to 400,902t in 2017.
While Australia's gross pome production is predicted to be up by 3%, the Class 1 packet is expected to be down significantly in volume by 7% compared with 2017. This is due to poor fruit setting in some regions and hail damage in other areas such as the Adelaide Hills in South Australia where an estimated 75% of the crop was affected.
In comparison pear production is forecast to rise 14% to 116,141t in 2018 with Class 1 packet at 65%.
The full report can be read at Apple and Pear Australia Ltd
Apple and Pear Australia Ltd
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East Melbourne.
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