Changing of the guard

SUNBEAM FOODS & ANGAS PARK

At the end of March 2023, Sunbeam Foods general manager Grant Leyden left the business to take up the role of general manager at Mildura Fruit Company (MFC).

MFC is a sister company of Sunbeam Foods, so essentially Grant’s transfer is an internal one and he takes over from Perry Hill, who has retired from the MFC business.

MFC is Australia’s premier citrus packer and exporter and this will be a new experience and challenge for Grant.

“Looking at the last eight or so years I am proud of the progressions in grower payments we have been able to bring through market price increases and the improved viability for all stakeholders this is starting to bring,” Grant said of his time at Sunbeam.

“The gains in efficiency and yield on farm and through factory processing have been impressive for those who have invested and are key to ongoing viability in an ever-cost increasing world.

“It is with great pleasure that I advise that Steve Sinclair, an existing Sunbeam Foods senior manager, has been appointed to take over from me in the Sunbeam general manager role.

“In his previous role as group procurement manager, Steve has overviewed the grower services department and all the other procurement activities for Sunbeam in his seven years with the business. He has also been instrumental in a lot of the improvement projects in the business over this time and a key contributor to the success of the business in recent years. Steve brings a great passion for the Sunbeam business, the dried fruit industry and its multiple stakeholders.

“At this time, I would like to say farewell to all our growers and to wish you all the very best for the future. I’ve greatly enjoyed our interaction over the period.”

Dried vine fruit

In a season that started with the crop losses to downy mildew, challenges continued with delayed fruit maturity and then circumstances were made more difficult with moderate daily temperatures, periods of rain and colder humid nights.

The fruit intake has subsequently been considerably slower than normal and the fruit colour has been predominantly brown, but still good quality.

Growers are now scrambling to get the last of their fruit harvested and dehydrated.

Prunes

The result of strong sales in 2022 was that we were running short of Australian prunes to fill all the Angas Park product range.

The 1kg pitted prune product was changed over to imported to fill the void, which enabled the other products to be kept in Australian fruit to continue the full range on the shelf.

The grading of the 2023 crop commenced quickly to return the 1kg product to Australian fruit, returning the range to 100 per cent Aussie.

The early indications on the grading are showing that the expectation of a pittable size range around 70 per cent looks achievable. The quality of this harvest is good, with only some small patches of scarring being detrimental to the overall grade.

The volume received by Angas Park was to expectations as grower estimates on crop load and yields were accurate. While the market could handle a great deal more volume than what is produced, it is pleasing that we have the grower support to keep the Angas Park brand in Australian fruit.

Dried tree fruit

The Angas Park intake of dried tree fruit is complete and the size and quality of the apricots is an improvement on the previous season. The overall intake is down due to the company’s orchard being at 50 per cent production with the replanting of trees taking place last year. We did receive good support from fresh and dried tree fruit growers for additional volume.v

Enquiries:

Grower services | 03 50514 400

Supply manager dried fruit

David Swain | 0407 834 044

Field officer (including SA)

Alan Lister | 0409 437 801

Field officer

Gary Simpson | 0429 960 234

Dried tree fruits operations manager – Loxton, Luke Fitzsimmons | 0431 894 515