AU apple & pear harvest could be down 10% from forecast
APAL technical manager Angus Crawford said he was receiving anecdotal feedback that indicated volumes were at least 10 per cent down on estimates made at the start of the season.
Apple and pear crop estimates, which APAL started in 2015 and are prepared by agriculture consultancy AgFirst, forecast in February gross volumes of apples would be up 3.1 per cent this year in comparison with 2016 while pear volumes would drop by 6.2 per cent.
“For Stanthorpe, this equates to approximately 2000 tonnes less production,” Mr Crawford said.
“In the Adelaide Hills it has been reported gala apple volumes are down by 20 per cent due to heat causing sunburn ... this loss represents approximately 1700 tonnes less production.”
source: weeklytimesnow.com.au
