All eyes on early varieties

AUSTRALIAN PREMIUM DRIED FRUITS

After a very concerning November and December where downy mildew outbreaks provided great uncertainty and damage to the crop, we had some great weather in January, February and March that stabilised the remaining fruit.

Yes, we had lost about half of the original estimate, but we still felt it was possible to salvage the season with the remaining crop.

We also hoped for a very high-grade product that we could supply markets, to repair some of the reputational damage from the 2022 season.

The maturity levels of the crop meant that a large portion was cut later than normal, exposing it to the rains in early April.

This meant that the overall quality was lower than hoped and another challenging year is ahead of us to meet customer expectations.

The climate has been creating more questions than answers in the last few seasons, so we hope a move from La Niña conditions to El Niño conditions in the coming season will see a better growing and harvest season in 2024. Most growers have moved into the specific dried fruit varieties of Sunmuscat, Sunglo and Carina, which have provided excellent results in previous seasons.

The late maturity of these varieties can definitely be an issue in seasons with mild and wet weather.

There is no doubt that the search for more early ripening varieties is one of the next challenges for the Australian industry. Due to its inconsistency and weather tolerance, Thompson seedless is diminishing in volume as each year goes on.

Many growers have planted Sugra39 or Selma Pete as an early alternative, which are not yet producing in any great volumes. Hopefully we see strong results from these varieties, which spread the risk of the crop across a much greater time period.

They will also be exposed to the hotter summer weather, which is much more suited to fast drying of the grapes.

In terms of marketing these new varieties, we see the global market has a simple demand for sultanas, raisins and currants.

Yes, there are exceptions like Sunmuscat, that has generated a good demand in Asian markets, but any of the green varieties that are dried with wetting solution are sold as sultanas.

Carinas have taken the place of Zantes and are sold as currants.

Apart from the small market for seeded raisins (gordos), we do not really have a market competitive variety to offer as a raisin. We see strong opportunity in future to develop a red or black seedless variety dried as an Australian raisin, which could be a similar offer to the Chilean flame or American TSR raisins that dominate the global raisin market. We expect 2023 to be a very difficult season, with limited volume and average quality.

It is one that makes us already look forward to the next, as we are sure many growers feel this way also.

The outlook for Australian industry is still positive, but we need to string a few years of decent supply and quality together to win back the market interest and reputation we normally enjoy.

We have our fingers crossed the El Niño conditions can stabilise our weather pattern in the short term, so we can control the outcomes a little better going forward.v

Enquiries: Grower liaison officer Larry Dichiera 0488 199 221 larry@apdf.com.au

Above: A change in weather pattern from La Niña conditions to El Niño will bring a welcome change for growing and drying fruit.