While some avocado growers in Western Australia are experiencing average, or below average, production it is not too much of a concern for the Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC), with expectations for it to bounce back stronger next year.
The region's avocado season started in October, and Produce Liaison Officer Anthony East says volumes vary a lot between the 45 Genuinely Southern Forests avocado producers, but that is to be expected given it is an off year in terms of the biennial crops.
"I had a producer quote some production numbers to me yesterday compared to last year which was that last year he picked 465 bins and from the same planting this year they will get around 16 bins, but that is the case when you have a biennial crop," he said. "In other instances I have had the opposite numbers quoted light last year and very heavy this year, but the majority of the crops are down on last year’s numbers with heavy sets on the trees for next year which looks optimistic for the 2018 season depending on weather"
Avocado production usually wraps up in February, although last year the market carried supply into March.
"Traditionally we don’t irrigate a lot in the colder months but we had the driest June on record meaning our producers were still watering," Mr East said. "We didn’t get a decent break in the season until July this year which was late for the Southern Forests, but good rains in July, August and September helped recover from a late start and producers managed the unusual growing conditions to adapt the right techniques to manage their crops to get the best outcomes."
Avocado producers from the Southern Forests region mainly supply the Australian East Coast, but the SFFC expects that export markets will open up in the near future, as the number of new plantings increase.
"The demand for Genuinely Southern Forests avocados at present is higher than supply, but a lot of our producers are diversifying and while they are still growing their traditional products like cauliflowers, broccoli, potatoes and apples they are branching out into avocados as well," Mr East said. "The Southern Forests region is very unique from other parts of Australia with our rich soils and clean water quality put together with motivated, hardworking, forward-planning, advanced producers making a recipe for success."
The Southern Forests Food Council is also ramping up its Retail Marketing Campaign which is in its second year, and involves 17 Perth metropolitan stores who contribute financially to take part in the campaign. Mr East says this is helping drive awareness and consumption of the region's produce.
"The campaign includes a suite of marketing activities driving customers to our greengrocer partners to access the produce from our region under the Genuinely Southern Forests brand," he said. "The avocados have been promoted throughout the campaign which started in October. The feedback from customers is that they are now asking for the Genuinely Southern Forests branded avocados. It has increased the awareness of where products are grown so when customers are buying produce with the Genuinely Southern Forests brand they know it is grown in the Southern Forests region."
For more information:Anthony East
Southern Forests Food Council
Phone: +61 8 9772 4180