New growth
TURNING TIDE IN DRIED GRAPES
al c i m e Ch nce bala M R L NEW ECT P RO J
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 1 FE BRUARY 2022 | DFA GROWER FORUM PREVIEW GLOBAL TABLE GRAPE TRADE | SEASONAL WORKER INITIATIVES
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Contents 4
Cover story New plantings to boost industry
29 Projects Yielding success
7
News Major change to workers pay
30 Biosecurity iMapPESTS
8
News Limiting risk
32 Biosecurity Continued prevention of fruit fly
10 DFA chair, CEO & industry development updates
33 Biosecurity Pest profile: Bois noir
12 ATGA CEO & industry development updates
34 Processing & marketing APDF
14 Dried grape news Pruner prototype
35 Processing & marketing Sunbeam Foods
15 Dried grape news Adding up the tonnes
36 ATGA marketing Domestic campaign launches
16 Table grape news Trading places
37 Technology All hands on tech
18 Prune news Big changes paying off
38 Profile Lachlan Mannes
20 News Forum to bring industry together
39 Community Notice board
22 News From the board
39 Board members
24 News Jenny's decades of dedication 26 News A problem shared 28 Tribute Peter MacIntosh The Vine is a joint publication of the Australian table grape and dried fruits industries. For editorial and advertising enquiries, contact: Dried Fruits Australia T: (03) 5023 5174 E: enquiries@driedfruitsaustralia.org.au W: www.driedfruitsaustralia.org.au Australian Table Grape Association T: (03) 5021 5718 E: enquiries@atga.net.au W: www.australiangrapes.com.au Editorial committee: DFA Anne Mansell, Lauren Roden, Megan Frankel-Vaughan ATGA Jeff Scott, Terryn Milner Design: Kylie Norton Design Printing: Sunnyland Press Cover photography: VAMVVIA manager Gary Thomas. Photography by David Sickerdick. © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2022 This publication has been funded by Hort Innovation using the table grape and dried grape levies and funds from the Australian Government. Wherever you see a Hort Innovation logo, the initiative is part of the Table Grape, Dried Grape, Dried Tree Fruit or Prune Fund. Some projects also involve funding from additional sources.
For further publication details, see page 39
Table Grapes
Dried Grapes
Combined Industries
Prunes
Changing tides In a period of significant change for employers and workers of seasonal labour, industries have banded together for the common good. Networks can often be undervalued, but their role in connecting industries is a vital one. As we leap into a new harvest season, we take a look at changes afoot for labour, promising growth for dried fruits, and hear from a variety of industry participants on how they dealt with the challenges of last season, and what they are looking forward to in 2022. – from the team
New plantings to boost industry There’s a turning tide in the dried grape industry.
of demand for Selma Pete and
family farms – or hobby growers – as
Sunmuscat.
well as large-scale growers had their
Corporate growers are expanding,
“The past couple years there’s been a
role to play.
bit of demand – I’ve sold every stick of
“I think the corporates are going to be
growing potential for “hobby” growers
Sunmuscat that I’ve had,” he said.
necessary if you’re going to build back
to cash in and play their part in
“There’s another one at the moment
new plantings are going in, and there’s
boosting industry tonnages.
– one of the Sun World proprietary
to a sustainable base of 20 or 30,000 tonnes,” Gary said.
varieties I’ve got – which is very early
“Corporates aren’t going to be the
and Murray Valley Vine Improvement
and a heavy producer.
total saviour. There’s scope for
Association (VAMVVIA) near
“A lot of growers baulk at paying
smaller ones to be in the game, too.
royalties because they don’t really
“I personally don’t know why people
understand the process, they don’t
with 10 or 20 acres don’t grow some
extrapolate it enough down the chain
dried fruit because you could do it
to realise why they’re paying the
on a weekend just about and grow it
royalty and what the benefits are.
yourself. It’s more like a hobby.
“The one from Sun World … it looks
“You could manage with not much
Gary Thomas, who manages Victoria
Wentworth, New South Wales, has given an insight into the role of his organisation and the trends he’s seeing across the industry.
Industry trends Gary, who has managed VAMVVIA for about 11 years, says like most things, trends in vineyards are cyclical.
like maybe you’d be able to cut it a month earlier than you would with a Sunglo, so it takes out the risk of rain
“The last few years we’ve done over
damage and poor drying conditions
1 million cuttings to the nursery
because it’s so much earlier.
industry. In the last couple of years that’s been an increase,” he said.
that to happen. There’s plenty of smaller blocks around with not much
very high producer and it won’t split,
Nathan Jilbert, who himself runs a
only done 500,000 cuttings.
sunmuscat is a bit the same.”
“One area of vine growing dies down,
Looking to the future
Gary said one of the biggest trends
being too risky – there’s scope for
on them.”
it’s very tough, but it’s also late, and
then dried fruit’s taking off again.”
yourself a good side income without
“Sunglo is a very good variety – a
“Four or five years ago we might’ve
and then another comes along, and
outside help and probably make
While trends come and go, Gary sees a big future in dried grapes.
family block of dried fruit in addition to running Sunraysia Vine Nursery, said he was seeing “huge growth in dried fruit”. “There’s a number of reasons: returns are good, I think a lot of people are
he’s seen is the move back to ramsey
“Most countries are having the
seeing the old vision of dried fruit
rootstock.
same problems as we have – with
has certainly changed. A number
competition, water, or old plantings
of new varieties are heavy bearing,
“Lately there’s been a lot of dried fruit that’s being put on ramsey,” he said. “Ramsey has more vigour than paulsen and it has different characteristics that may be more drought-tolerant and may withstand wet conditions better. Every rootstock has got its set
– and in Australia we’ve got a reasonable domestic market that sometimes we can’t even fill,” he said.
consistent, and rain tolerant. Together with mechanisation, it’s driving more demand and people are planting,”
“We still do have a good name, but
he said.
if you can’t supply, it doesn’t mean
Nathan said if people were willing to
much.”
put in the work, it was “completely
of things that set it apart from the
He said it was vital that the industry
possible” to grow dried grapes as a
others.”
boosted its tonnages, and he was
side hustle.
heartened by the entry of corporate
“Both (hobby farms and corporates)
Gary said that while Carina currants had overtaken the “old fashioned” Zante currant, and there was barely any demand for sultanas as a dried fruit variety, there had been plenty
4 VINE MAGAZINE
growers to the dried grape scene.
definitely have a role to play. In terms
But he emphasised that corporate
of a packing sheds wanting a1 top
growers were not the silver bullet
quality produce, that’s where I see the
for the industry, and that both small
family farm niche,” he said.
COVER STORY
VINE MAGAZINE 5
COVER STORY
Role of VAMVVIA VAMVVIA is essentially the first step in the dried grape supply chain. The not-for-profit organisation grows about eight different varieties of rootstock, which are cut each winter and delivered to vine nurseries across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. “You can really establish a great
your processor about demand, include
business around your lifestyle by
your nurserymen. The processors and
choosing varieties that mature at a
grower reps have got a good handle on
certain time.”
different varieties.”
Now’s the time to order
While VAMVVIA takes its own
Growers have been urged to get their vine orders in now to ensure they don’t miss out. Both Gary and Nathan said now was the time to place orders for material.
measures to ensure material health and quality, Gary said some of the responsibility also landed with growers. When ordering new vines, he urged people to talk to their nursery to make
“If a grower is thinking about planting,
sure material was coming from an
they really need to get their order in
organisation like VAMVVIA.
now because they’ve got to allow the nursery to put their order in and make sure we’ve got the material and the vinifera to go on top. If you don’t do it, you run the risk of missing out,” Gary said. “And that does happen, especially now with the demand being big with
“There’s VAMVVIA, and there are other like-minded organisations, like Riverland Vine Improvement Committee or Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Vine Improvement Society,” Gary said. “You’d hope that if they get their
competition, you can’t always get
material from us, or someone like us,
what you want.
that it’s virus free, well grown and
“Growers need to think ahead, work out their finances to pay deposits. There’s a lot going on that they have
true to type. That means that if you’re buying a sultana, you know that it’s a sultana – it’s not something else.
to think about, but this is the time to
“That’s one of the main reasons you’d
start thinking about it.”
ask for material from a VAMVVIA-like
Nathan said it was important for growers to be organised when it came
source; it’s got traceability, otherwise you don’t know where it comes from.”
to running their business.
Nathan agreed, urging growers to
“If you want to plant your vineyard
do their research when it came to
next year, you really should be letting
sourcing new vine material.
me know now, so we can organise buds
“The best thing to do is make sure
to start planting,” he said.
their rootstock comes from a tested
In addition to rootstock, VAMVVIA also grows about 25 acres of vinifera varieties for grafting to rootstock. Nurseries will use rootstock cuttings – mostly ramsey and paulsen – and graft to their chosen variety to sell to growers. “They do grafting or propagating of rootlings – we just supply the cuttings,” VAMVVIA manager Gary Thomas said. Gary said VAMVVIA also acts as a repository for grape industries, and is home to “mother vines” of some commercial varieties, as well as varieties like sultana. “If some are lost … or if you get a sudden demand for something, we can plant it up here,” he explained. “It’s good for the industry that VAMVVIA’s there because it keeps a stock of material that otherwise may be lost to the industry.” VAMVVIA takes its role in the health of grape industries seriously, virus testing rootstocks and vinifera each season. “They’re all sent to AWRI (Australian Wine Research Institute) in Adelaide for virus testing, so if anything comes back with a problem, it either has to come out or be treated,” Gary said. “Everything’s supposed to be at
“If you can’t afford to miss out, then
source,” he said.
get your orders in now.
“For me, I get my stuff from VAMVVIA,
for grafting material. That’s our
“There's a bunch of exciting varieties
which I know has been disease tested.
premise for why we exist.”
around. Do your homework, speak to
I know where it comes from.” v
6 VINE MAGAZINE
the top end of the health status
NEWS
Major change to workers’ pay A major change to the Horticulture Award that will mean pieceworkers are entitled to take home a minimum casual rate of pay will come into effect in the coming months.
"They do not provide a fair and
Workers can still be paid a piece rate,
relevant minimum safety net as
which must allow for the average
required by the Act," it said. "The
worker to earn the equivalent of at
Full Bench was satisfied that the
least 15 per cent above the casual
insertion of a minimum wage floor
rate.
It follows the Fair Work Commission’s
modern awards objective."
(FWC) ruling in November last year that casual farm workers should be guaranteed a minimum rate of pay – currently $25.41 an hour – for the work they complete.
with consequential time recording provisions in the piecework clause is necessary to ensure that the Horticulture Award achieves the The change was earlier challenged by a broad range of horticultural bodies, including both the Australian Table Grape Association and Dried Fruits
Employers will also be required to record the hours worked by the piece worker and the rate applied to the hours worked. Growers should keep up to date on the change and how it’s implemented by visiting www.horticulture.fairwork.gov.au
Australia, as well as the National
This site includes all the information
This change to the Horticulture Award
Farmers’ Federation, over concerns
about current requirements under
will come into effect on 28 April.
the introduction of a minimum floor
the Horticulture Award and will be
rate would discourage productivity.
updated to reflect the new changes
In its finding, the FWC’s full bench expressed the view that the former
The final decision means casual
pieceworker provisions in the
workers under the Horticulture
Horticulture Aware were “not fit
Award must be paid a minimum
for purpose”.
$25.41 per hour.
as they become law. Growers can subscribe to email updates on this site. v
VINE MAGAZINE 7
NEWS
Limiting risk M RLS, EHI S , A N D T HE BE N EF I TS TO I N D U STRY & C O N S U M ER
In 2022, pest management decisions are a huge consideration for growers, who must prepare, plan, pre-empt issues and protect the reputation of industry.
repel viruses. Consumers also enjoy
Australia and Summerfruit Australia
the back-story about food they eat
Limited in a project funded by
– they want to know its provenance,
Agriculture Victoria to gather residue
and that it is “clean and safe” – grown
data and apply a model that calculates
using environmentally friendly
the decay of chemicals, for estimating
growing practices.
EHIs for grape exports.
For grape producers, that means
ATGA will model EHIs for eight
careful planning and record keeping
chemicals initially, giving priority
The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) project lead Alison MacGregor talks about export harvest intervals – what they are, and how they help grape producers satisfy quality standards in export markets – and a new ATGA project designed to help growers make pest management decisions easier.
with regard to chemical use.
to late-season botryticides, and
Planning includes knowing how long
insecticides. Some data will come
to wait (days) after applying the last
from the chemical industry and
spray, before harvesting fruit, to allow
some from the Food and Agricultural
residual chemical to degrade to the
Organisation (FAO) of the United
levels accepted in each export market
Nations/World Health Organisation
(called a maximum residue limit, MRL).
(WHO).
Sometimes export MRLs are lower
EHI recommendations for grape
than Australian MRLs. In that case,
markets will appear in the ATGA
the length of time required to meet
MRL app. But only if suitable data
the export MRL is likely to be longer
is available for the model (i.e. the
than the withholding period on the
data must meet international
chemical label. The time period
standards used by the FAO for setting
required to meet an export MRL is
internationally agreed (Codex) MRLs).
In a post-Covid world, consumers are seeking healthier snacking options with high levels of antioxidants to help
8 VINE MAGAZINE
called an export harvest interval (EHI). The ATGA will partner with Cherries
The industry must avoid a “rubbish in, rubbish out” situation. EHIs
NEWS
Successful exporters don’t take risks regarding export MRLs. Somewhere in the chain, the grower or their agronomist or agent are probably following these steps: 1. Prepare a list of chemical options for your spray program. 2. For each chemical on your list, compare the Australian MRL with the MRLs of your target markets. 3. If any export MRLs are lower than the Australian MRL, plan to use a longer EHI than the label withholding period, and keep good records for the auditor and agent. won’t be reliable if poor data are
4. Send samples to a NATA
used in the model. If an unreliable
approved laboratory for residue
recommendation leads to residues
testing, just prior to harvest,
being detected in an export market,
and request a test that is
Australia's table grape industry gets a
relevant to grapes.
bad reputation.
5. Check the residue test results
It will take time to gradually populate
before committing grapes to
the ATGA app with reliable EHIs.
any market, because if residues
Currently the app defaults to a very long EHI if an export MRL is lower than the Australian MRL.
exceed an MRL in that country
There are several reasons that another country might set a lower MRL in grapes compared the Australian MRL. For example, if Japan has already established MRLs for Chemical X on stable foods (rice, soy, leafy greens and a range of local fruit), then their total diet might already contain close to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for Chemical X. As a consequence, when Japan reviews MRLs for additional food types, including grapes, they can’t permit any more of the chemical into their diet and must set very low MRLs
then the fruit must be diverted
A label's "withholding period" (WHP) refers to the time interval to meet the Australian MRL
amacgregor@atga.net.au Opposite page: Project lead Alison MacGregor advised growers to think of the end user of their product – the consumer.
before shipping reduces the risk of a shipment being rejected on arrival because residues were found. The ATGA extension team is available to help industry members to locate laboratories with NATA accreditation for relevant chemicals.
for those other foods. v Alison MacGregor
to a different market. Testing
The export harvest interval (EHI) refers to the time interval to meet export MRLs.
The maximum residue limit (MRL) is the maximum concentration of a residue, resulting from use of an agricultural chemical, which is legally permitted to be present in or on a food, agricultural commodity, or animal feed.
Top: Sunraysia laboratory ALTSA is a NATA accredited facility which conducts residue testing of a number of chemicals used on table grapes. Picture: ALTSA
VINE MAGAZINE 9
DFA CHAIR & CEO
Welcome to a new year A note from our chair 2022 is here and, at the time of writing this, some have been fortunate to have missed all the rain we’ve had through January. Many times it looked like we were in for some heavy falls and on Australia Day many received a very large rain event. I hope any damage has been minimal for our growers. Harvest should now be well underway, and if not spraying drying mixture and cutting canes it will be happening shortly on most varieties. It’s been a promising season so far, with crops looking good to date and prices strong. In November, the Fair Work Commission handed down its ruling that farm workers were entitled to take home a minimum casual rate of pay – currently $25.41 an hour. This change to the Horticulture Award will come into effect on 28 April. (Read more about the change to the Horticulture Award on page 7). Labour will be short again, so it’s a good idea for growers to have a backup plan. It may be better to start a bit earlier than wait until everyone is looking for workers at the same time.
copies of our Best Practice Guide. I encourage everyone to have a look. It gives a great guide on season timelines and how your harvest should roll out. Remember, when we get into late March and April, the drying time is extended and dehydration costs often eat the dollars we gained in weight.
News from our CEO Welcome to a new year – one which we all hope will have great opportunities for the dried grape industry and where the issues we’ve all experienced over the past two years with Covid-19 will start to dissipate. The year ahead will – in late March – see the finalisation of the Australian Government-funded 10 Tonne Project. Data from the four sites involved in this project has shown how considerable improvements can be made to productivity through the use of agritechnology guiding vine requirements for fertiliser and irrigation inputs.
stakeholders to attend the forum, which will be sponsored by Hort Innovation featuring guest speakers focussed on the ever-changing requirements for horticulture, including: - Hort Innovation, talking on the recently-released Sustainability Framework and benefits for dried grape production systems - Kevin Bodnaruk, an expert on maximum residue limits (MRLs), discussing impacts for spray programs in markets, particularly the EU - Ferdie Botha, CEO Raisins South Africa, focussing on the industry in South Africa - Processors APDF and Sunbeam Foods, providing updates on the industry and markets DFA will provide nibbles and drinks at the end of the forum, when there will be a chance to talk with the guest speakers. We look forward to seeing you there. Other learning opportunities in the first half of this year include the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre AgTech Summit, which will be held at the SuniTAFE Farm on Thursday and Friday 5 and 6 May, and Mildura Field Days on 20 and 21 May at the Mildura Racecourse.
Potash and drying oil are also in short supply, so it’s important to check availability with suppliers.
Further information derived from this project will be discussed at the postponed Annual Grower Forum, which will be held on 28 April at Willow and Ivie.
DFA has recently released its updated
I encourage all members, growers and
With harvest upon us, we trust that the weather will hold and that this year will deliver good yields for all. v
Mark King | Chair
Anne Mansell | CEO
10 VINE MAGAZINE
DFA NEWS
Progress on projects D RI E D G RA PE P R O D U C TI O N I N N OVATI O N A N D A DOPT I O N P R O G R A M 2 0 2 1 - 2 6
As we move through harvest 2022. It has been a busy few months for the Dried Fruits Australia extension and development programs. Mechanised pruning We have continued to work on the mechanised pruning system with our partners at La Trobe University and Mallee Regional Innovation Centre. Now that the cutting system is largely completed, the focus has been on establishing a reliable image system that can be used to drive the cutting head location. The latest tests have involved both normal video and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) imaging.
The photo from the cab of our trial
Australian Government-funded 10
tractor gives you a bit of an idea of
Tonne project.
what we have been doing.
looking to improve on 2020-21 harvest
the LiDAR information and the one on
results.
the right is collecting the normal video.
Another key part of the last year of
Digital spray diary
this project is the use of inline yield
We have been looking at the
and poor performing parts of the
development of a new electronic spray diary to be rolled out in the 2022-23
monitoring systems to identify good vineyard.
season.
This will help to improve decision
The system will be similar to the
achieving 10 tonne per hectare yields.
ones used in the wine grape industry, but will include all of the necessary requirements for dried grape production. While we will still likely produce a paper version, it is hoped that in time the whole industry will go digital with
Hopefully this will give us enough
its spray records.
information for the engineers at La
10 Tonne Project
Trobe University to control the cutting
All of the crops this season were
The computer on the left is collecting
head with enough sensitivity to cut all
On 21 December and 27 January
of the canes while protecting
we were finally able to get out and
the cordon.
visit the demonstration sites for the
making across patches to support The system from Advanced Viticulture Technologies weighs fruit continuously as it moves off the delivery belt of the harvester and links this information to accurate GPS data so we should be able to map yield variation nearly down to the individual vine. v Stuart Putland Dried Fruits Australia field officer 03 5023 5174 projects@driedfruitsaustralia.org.au
VINE MAGAZINE 11
ATGA CEO
Audit process goes hybrid The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) will change the way it conducts grower and pack house audits this year due to the ongoing Covid situation in all states. The ATGA welcomes the change – it’s something we’ve pushed for, for a number of years now, since the start of the electronic export registration system. We’ve advised DAWE that growers who register for exports year on year, and have been compliant in all requirements, should be recognised for their compliance and effort. DAWE will trial the method this year to see if it can implement it for future years. Growers should be accredited based on past records, and compliance history, and not be required to undertake a full audit each year. A number of growers have already been subjected to a pre-season audit, those that haven’t at this stage will have a physical audit from the end of February onwards. While it is an inconvenience to have a physical audit during your harvest season, DAWE believes that it’s important to see harvest operations in action, in real time, to demonstrate that growers are doing what they say they are. Therefore, growers must take this
year’s physical audits seriously and demonstrate full compliance. This will lead to continued hybrid audits for everyone in future years, and should also reduce the audit fee. DAWE will conduct in-season audits in a hybrid model due to Covid issues affecting human resources and travel. It recognises that the current Covid situation has had a significant impact on both grower and departmental resources, meaning different methods must be employed to facilitate ongoing trade as well as maintain a required level of assurance that importing country requirements are being met. Growers must meet the requirements to ensure the hybrid audit model is successful. What does that entail? There will be an initial phone entry meeting, which will cover pest notification and monitoring requirements, as well as discussions on reference materials and specific conditions for protocol exports (such as product security requirements, IPM on farms, etc.) A review of recordkeeping will also take place during this initial call. DAWE will then undertake a remote desktop audit where it will initiate an audit meeting request/email to have a time for an entry meeting, exit meeting and request that the establishment manager be available for questions via phone.
Growers will be expected to explain notification requirements for changes to accredited properties, or if a pest of concern was detected what actions were taken and how were they documented. Don’t forget that any action undertaken in your pest monitoring must be substantiated in your spray diaries. Other questions will be based on the work plans for countries growers are accredited for. Essentially, the discussions involved with the desktop review conversations will cover elements that would normally be discussed and examined as part of the traditional face-to-face audit experienced in previous years. The topics will include records relevant to the audited entity, such as: training records, hygiene records, traceability, importing country requirements. They’ll also request records that would normally be provided as part of a site audit, as outlined in various performance standards on the DAWE website. The onsite physical audit components are usually those not easily verified through documentation alone. The aviator will need to verify that documentation submitted during a remote audit is the same submitted during during a physical audit. Depending on the grower being audited, the auditor may require viewing of traps, labelling, storage, hygiene, etc. Growers can refer to the performance standards on the DAWE website to find out more about what to expect. We hope your audits are successful and your season fruitful! You can see what our chair has to say about the season in our 2022 board update, on page 22. v
Jeff Scott | CEO
12 VINE MAGAZINE
ATGA NEWS
Goodbye 2021, hello 2022 Like everybody, we’ve been looking forward to a fresh start in 2022, hoping it would bring more positive news. However, it feels 2022 has already thrown some curveballs. Over the past few months, skyrocketing national and local Covid numbers meant many properties and businesses were shut down or low on staff due to isolation and travel restrictions. Alongside this, in January, Mother Nature also saw fit to throw hail into the mix. While only a strip of properties in Euston copped the worst hail, others were hammered with heavy
- plans to test for mites this year - had numerous sessions with scientists and agronomic consultants from all over Australia to exchange information, get advice and receive assistance - held multiple updates and information sessions for growers and interested stakeholders - finetuned and rolled out a grower
Labour In these difficult times, complications around sourcing and keeping labour and maintaining a safe working
though, and the show must go on!
the team put together a COVIDSafe
Starting early October, restricted spring growth (RSG) was observed widely in the Sunraysia region, and the team had its hands full. So far, the team has:
Plan and factsheets detailing some key responsibilities and obligations of employers and employees, the differences between labour hire
The use of “machine vision” (the ability for a computer to see, using cameras and convert the imagery to digital data) is well established for
table grapes. For more information on this exciting project, see page 29. The ATGA has also obtained further funding through Hort Innovation for a vine health project as part of our existing extension project. This will allow the ATGA to invest further resources into the quest to resolve the current RSG investigation, as well as being able to spend more time on vine health in general. v Alison, Jenny & Karen
and the key steps involved in becoming
Industry development team
an approved employer.
amacgregor@atga.net.au
The Covid plan and labour-related
jtreeby@atga.net.au
factsheets can be found on the ATGA
kconnolly@atga.net.au
website or as hard copy at the ATGA office. There is also information on
- collected and sent approximately 160 samples of symptomatic and non-symptomatic samples away for virus testing at less than half the normal cost to the participating growers
organisations involved in attracting
- sent trunks for disease testing and
on-farm adoption of technology.
companies and approved employers
- visited many growers throughout the Sunraysia and Robinvale regions, looking at symptomatic and nonsymptomatic vines
- collected and sent several samples for bacterial and fungal analysis
This year the ATGA aims to fast-track
apples and wine grapes, but not yet
far from our minds. To help with this,
Restricted spring growth
Projects
crop regulation in other crops such as
Robinvale. We are a resilient industry,
fronts:
roll it out to other states if wanted.
causes of RSG.
environment continue and are never
has been working actively on several
approach is successful, the team will
survey to drill down into possible
rain, which also crossed the river into
Over the past few months, the team
resulted in a few more pickers! If this
where to find assistance, if more is needed. Additionally, a round table of local seasonal workers to the Sunraysia region has been nurtured by the ATGA team since last year as part of an Agriculture Victoria grant (Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Program). During that time multiple online meetings with these organisations were held, as well as a session in
roots for nematode, fungal and mould
January with jobseekers themselves.
testing
It will be interesting to see if this has
VINE MAGAZINE 13
DRIED GRAPE NEWS
Pruner prototype S E T F O R WI N TER TEST
has delivered three prototype trials during a very disrupted 2021 season. DFA consultant field officer Stuart Putland said the trials had provided valuable data that led to a move from electronic to hydraulic powering of the on-tractor tool.
The dried grape industry's mechanised pruning prototype will be finalised this upcoming pruning season following further field trials this year.
“In an effort to speed up the movement towards and away from the cordon as the machine moves down the row while still using an electric actuator, we have
“The plan was to have another two prototyping runs to finalise the cutting head retraction speed and vision system control. But because the project couldn’t be completed, we have organised an extension to allow time for more extensive testing under the correct conditions over winter this year.”
This update initially appeared in the
(MRIC) partner La Trobe University,
the camera sensing system.
14 VINE MAGAZINE
for sharpening,” Stuart said.
swapped to a four-bar mechanism to
Mallee Regional Innovation Centre
Dried Fruits Australia (DFA) and
blade cutter bar with removable blades
“Good progress has been made on getting the prototype up and running, but 12 weeks of Covid-19 lockdowns during the pruning season meant we weren’t able to do as much as we’d planned,” Stuart said.
Stuart said for the third prototype Dr Robert Ross from La Trobe University had worked on a faster retraction mechanism to link the cutting head to
The project, a collaboration between
“The third prototype also has a four-
move the cutting head. “This has allowed Robert to triple the in/out speed compared to previous versions.” v
November MRIC newsletter at https:// eng.unimelb.edu.au/mric, which also includes a link to a YouTube clip demonstrating how the system works. Top left: The mechanised pruner trial in action late last year. Right: Dr Robert Ross has worked on a faster retraction mechanism for the most recent mechanised pruner prototype. Left: David Lyons, Dr Robert Ross and DFA field officer Stuart Putland during the most recent trial of the mechanised pruner.
DRIED GRAPE NEWS
Adding up the tonnes PROJE C T T RI A L S YI EL D M O N I TO R I N G
As Dried Fruits Australia’s (DFA) 10 Tonne Project comes to the end of its third and final year, one last piece of the puzzle will aim to provide a clear picture of how demonstration sites are performing. The 10 Tonne Project, which aims to demonstrate how to consistently achieve 10 tonnes per hectare, will add yield monitoring to its data collection this harvest.
as it moves off the delivery belt of the
At a recent field day, growers toured
harvester.
10 Tonne Project demonstration sites
It links this information to accurate GPS data, which means the project has
and had the chance to get a closer look at yield monitoring equipment.
the potential to map yield variation
Findings from the 10 Tonne Project will
almost down to the individual vine.
be presented at the DFA Grower Forum
Stuart said growers could use this technology to make decisions across their property to ensure the yields are as high as possible. The 10 Tonne Project is funded by the Australian Government under
in April. Read more about this event, and the speakers involved, on pages 20-21. v Below: Growers had the chance to see how yield monitoring technology would be trialled this harvest as part of Dried Fruits Australia’s 10 Tonne Project at a recent field day.
the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program.
This is in addition to using agritechnology to complete soil moisture monitoring, aerial imaging, microclimate monitoring and track fertiliser applications. DFA field officer Stuart Putland said the yield monitoring equipment would be fitted to a harvester, allowing the grower to determine how different parts of a vineyard perform. The system from Advanced Viticulture Technologies weighs fruit continuously
“Suppliers of improved grapevine rootstock and scion wood to the grape industry” Contact Gary Thomas Tel: (03) 5022 8499 Mob: 0418 997 730 PO Box 5051, Mildura Vic 3502 Email: vamvvia@bigpond.com Please see website for more information & order forms www.vamvvia.org
VINE MAGAZINE 15
TABLE GRAPE NEWS
Trading places As Australian table grape growers and exporters reach the culmination of their year-long efforts, we widen our view to global trade and production. Australia's production is expected to remain roughly at 210,000220,000 tonnes in 2021/22 after a challenging year, but what is the world experiencing? Adverse weather affected many Southern and Northern Hemisphere growing nations, with global production remaining roughly unchanged last year at 24.7 million tonnes.
China offset weather-induced losses, as the largest producer of table grapes globally. Continued enhancements in crop management techniques led to higher volumes and strengthened imported fruit quality, with the country continuing its stronghold on production with 11 million tonnes. Global trade in table grapes reported by United Nations Comtrade in 2019 was 4.5 million tonnes worth AU$11.2 billion equivalent. Global trade volume increased on average by 1 per cent per year over the past five years, meaning almost 20 per cent of table grape production is traded.
MAJOR NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TABLE GRAPE PRODUCERS & MARKET SUPPLIERS
MAJOR SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE TABLE GRAPE PRODUCERS & MARKET SUPPLIERS
Countries like Turkey, Italy and Chile experienced severe weather events, as production held steady or declined.
Over 20 years the trade in table grapes has increased from 2.5 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes with trade to Asia influencing the growth particularly from 2009 to 2018. v
CHILE
PERU
SOUTH AFRICA
Chile is the world’s largest exporter of table grapes. However, the trend has fallen 8 per cent per year over the past five years. Exports also dipped 13 per cent to 524,278 tonnes in 2020/21 (12 per cent of global exports), with an average export unit value of AU$3.61 per kg.
Peru is a rapidly expanding producer and exporter of table grapes and now exceeds the production of Chile. In 2020 Peru produced 665,000 tonnes of table grapes. Peru’s dry coast, combined with precision irrigation, enables Peru to mature vines 55 per cent faster than in neighbouring countries.
South Africa is the largest table grape producer in Africa and produced almost 400,000 tonnes, according to industry data.
In 2020/21 United States (US) was the main destination, accounting for 49 per cent of Chile’s table grape exports by volume, followed by China with 15 per cent. Exports to China decreased 30 per cent in the year-on-year, due to the supply capability and logistics impacted by the pandemic. Korea and Japan are also important Asian markets for Chile, though both were around 5 per cent lower in the year. Export season: January to May
Grape production is mainly located in Ica (41 per cent) and Piura (22 per cent), estimated at 31,500 hectares. In 2020/21 Peru exported 465,777 tonnes of table grapes, with an average export unit value of AU$3.16 per kg. The US was the main destination (42 per cent) by volume, followed by Europe (25 per cent share), and Asia (16 per cent). Peru commenced supplying to mainland China in 2016. Export season: October to February
References: USDA report on global grape production, NCX Drahorad, Fruitrop
16 VINE MAGAZINE
In 2020/21 South Africa exported 384,297 tonnes of table grapes, or 90 per cent of production with an average export FOB unit value of AU$2.49 per kg. The volume was 15 per cent higher than the previous year, reflecting a production increase. Europe strengthened its position as the main destination accounting for 75 per cent of all exports by volume followed by Asia and Middle east markets. Exports to China dropped 13 per cent facing stronger competition from Peru. South Africa does not have access to Japan, Korea or Thailand, and has even greater challenges than Australia with entry to Indonesia. Export season: December to March
TABLE GRAPE NEWS
CHINA
USA
China is the world’s largest table grape producer. In 2020, China produced 11 million tonnes – 44 per cent of global production – almost 10-fold from 2000, when production was little more than 1 million tonnes.
The United States is a net importer of table grapes, importing almost twice the volume exported. In 2020, the US produced 871,000 tonnes of table grapes, mostly in California, and imported over 668,000 tonnes from Chile, Peru and other Latin American suppliers to maintain supply year-round.
In 2020/21 China exported 425,640 tonnes – only 4 per cent of total production. Ninety-six per cent of exports were sent to Asian markets. In the past five years, export growth of table grapes from China has been about 14 per cent per year. Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines were the main destinations. China sends large volumes of grapes and citrus and pome fruits to these markets in return for large volumes of tropical bananas, lychees and dragon fruit. China imports table grapes mostly from February to September. Export season: July to January
In 2020/21 the US exported 360,053 tonnes of table grapes, declining 3 per cent, with an average export unit value of AU$3.21 per kg. Canada and Mexico were the main export destinations, accounting for 57 per cent of the US exports by volume, followed 32 per cent to Asia, including Japan and South Korea. Australian and New Zealand trade accounted for 5 per cent of US table grape exports, falling 30 per cent. Export season: June to December
ITALY
SPAIN
Italy is Europe’s largest producer and exporter of table grapes, exceeding 1 million tonnes in 2019, a 5.5 per cent increase per year on the five years prior. Puglia (52%) and Sicily (40%) generate 90 per cent of production.
Spain is the second largest producer and exporter of table grapes in Europe. Spanish table grape production reached 331,000 tonnes in 2019 – increasing 3 per cent per year over five years.
Italy’s seedless grape industry is moving rapidly. Larger farmers are planting new varieties, international breeders are investing in Italy, and main players have launched their own programs of varietal innovation, according to NCX Drahorad, an Italian service company to the industry. In 2020/21 Italy exported 454,902 tonnes of table grapes with an average recorded export unit value of AU$2.62 per kg. Almost all (99 per cent) exports stay within Europe, predominantly Germany, France and Poland. Small volumes are sent to the Middle East and Africa. Export season: July to December
Almost 50 per cent of grapes are produced in Murcia, and expanding, while production in Valencia and Andalusia declines. In 2020/21 Spain exported 200,115 tonnes, with an average recorded export unit value of AU$3.42 per kg. Ninety-six per cent of exports remain in Europe, with the UK and Germany the main destinations (a combined 55 per cent of export volume).
INDIA India is the second largest producer of table grapes in Asia after China. In 2020 India produced 2.3 million tonnes, a 4-fold increase on the decade prior. In 2020/21 India exported 268,002 tonnes of table grapes, average export unit value of AU$1.56 per kg. Main export destinations are Europe (39 per cent by volume), Asia (mainly adjacent Bangladesh and Nepal, 37 per cent), Russia and the Middle East. Export season: January to April
TURKEY Turkey is the largest table grape producer in the Middle East, producing about 2 million tonnes per year. Most are grown in Turkey’s Aegean Region. In 2020/21 Turkey exported 214,597 tonnes of table grapes, with an average export unit value of AU$1.03 per kg. Russia is the main destination (54 per cent), followed by the Ukraine and Eastern European markets. Export season: from July to December
MEXICO Mexico’s tables grape production has almost doubled in the past decade. In 2020 Mexico produced 407,000 tonnes, half of which is exported. The state of Sonora (Hermosillo and Caborca) in north west Mexico represents 95% of the total table grape production.
Asia, India and Africa are seen as opportunities and, while a trade agreement was signed with China in 2019, transport time (60 days, double that of pre-Covid) has hampered exports.
In 2020/21 Mexico exported 190,156 tonnes of table grapes (99 per cent to the US), falling 7 per cent year on the previous year with an average export unit value of AU$4.06 per kg.
Export season: July to December
Export season: May to July
VINE MAGAZINE 17
PRUNE NEWS
Big changes paying off F UT U RE L OOKS B RI G H T F O R S O L A R D RYI N G P R U N ES
The future of the Australian prune industry is looking positive, with young, enthusiastic growers like Ann Furner and husband Anthony Nehme leading the way with innovative drying techniques and developing value-adding opportunities.
“I was the industry development
Ann and Anthony use a very
officer at the time and was excited
different technique from all other
by the benefits that solar operations
growers which has enabled them
offered. Following the Chile congress
to differentiate themselves in the
I set up a small-scale trial on behalf
industry and offer a product that is
of the Australian prune industry to
both delicious and sustainably dried.
“We didn’t plan to be prune farmers,”
possibility of installing the new
Ann said.
technology on our farm.
“I had returned to my hometown
“At that time, we were reliant on
– developing packaging, logistics,
of Griffith in 2006 after about 10
contractors to harvest and dry our
storage facilities and label designs,”
years away studying and working. I
fruit. This often meant our fruit was
Ann said.
was working for Yenda Producers
left right to the end of the season, so
Cooperative as a horticulturalist
our fruit was past its optimum harvest
where I met Anthony.
quality and sometimes we would lose
“We enjoyed living in Griffith, but having both come from farming
see if the technology would work in Australian conditions,” she said.
which include whole and pitted
so that’s when I put on my grower’s
prunes along with dark, milk or white
hat and started to investigate the
chocolate coating.
the majority of fruit on the ground before it could be harvested. “As a result, Anthony and I were forced
out of town. It just happened that
to make some big changes if we were
in 2008, a small farm came on the
to survive in the industry.”
had a shed and a house and came with 5.6 hectares (14 acres) of prunes and 12 ha (30 acres) of wine grapes.” The couple started with one tractor and a 2000L canopy sprayer and over time have changed the look of the whole farm. The wine grapes were removed after several poor years and replaced with 13 ha of prunes.
their Naturally Dried Prunes products,
“The findings were very promising
backgrounds, knew we wanted to live
market. It was in an ideal location,
In November 2019 they launched
“We worked for about eight months to get everything ready for the launch
“We undertook several trials to get the chocolate coating right – the first batch was a total failure – and we used friends and family as our taste testers. “We have also worked closely with David Swain from Angas Park to get our business off the ground. Angas
They upscaled the initial trial and now
Park has allowed us to deliver solar
have 12 tunnels, with plans to expand
dried fruit to them. They keep this
the drying space to 24 tunnels over
separate from our gas-dried fruit and
the next two years,
they help with the rehydrating and
In addition, by moving away from the reliance on unrenewable energy and using the energy of the sun to dry fruit, they have eliminated drying
pitting process. “We have also worked closely with the team at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory to perfect the art
costs and have been able to reduce
of chocolate coating prunes.”
their carbon footprint.
Ann and Anthony began by selling
“We are also able to control our
their product at various farmer’s
harvest start date, so fruit is
markets in the region.
In 2019, the original prune block
harvested at optimum maturity,
“In December 2019 we attended our
was removed, and 12 solar tunnels
without losses in yield,” Ann said.
first market – the River and Wren
“Furthermore, it might be a personal
Market in Wagga Wagga,” she said.
Ann was introduced to the Swiss-
bias, but our fruit through the solar
“We had no idea how much product
designed solar drying technology
dryers tastes delicious. This is
to take, so we took heaps. We also
at the 2015 International Prune
because they are dried for a longer
brought a lot home at the end of the
Association Congress in Italy, and
period at lower temperatures which
day, but we didn’t care because the
during the 2016 Chile IPA Congress
reduces the chance of the sugars
people who tried our product loved it,
visited a farm to see it in action.
caramelising.”
and they bought it.”
installed.
18 VINE MAGAZINE
PRUNE NEWS
They continue to attend local markets and have several wholesalers spread from Mildura through to Albury and as far north as Orange. Ann has also developed her own website and social media platforms to support the brand and online sales of their prunes. She is also a strong advocate for the industry and has recently embarked on her next venture hosting farm tours. “I’m really looking forward to the next couple of years in the prune industry. It’s exciting that our new block of prunes is coming into full production and will really put our solar drying tunnels to the test,” Ann said. “I believe the Australian prune industry has a great future. Prices are the highest I’ve seen; the next generation of growers are joining the executive team to bring some fresh ideas and the demand for dried fruit is high. “It’s an exciting time and it would be wonderful to see some new growers join the industry with some new plantings.” v
VINE MAGAZINE 19
NEWS
Forum to bring industry together Dried Fruits Australia will bring growers, processors and industry stakeholders together at this year’s Grower Forum in Nichols Point. The DFA Annual Grower Forum was scheduled to be held last year, however Covid-19 restrictions meant it was not possible to host the event. DFA CEO Anne Mansell said the forum would be an opportunity for growers to connect at the end of harvest and hear the latest from experts both within and outside of the industry. “It’ll be a chance for growers and industry people to get together, winddown after another big year, while this year also hearing from a range of speakers,” she said.
Speakers will explore topics including chemical application, industry projects, markets, water, technology and sustainability, while representatives from the industry’s processors will take a look at the season, provide a market update and share news from the industry. The forum, this year sponsored by Hort Innovation, will be hosted at Willow & Ivie, Nichols Point, on 28 April. DFA will provide nibbles and drinks at the conclusion of the forum, where there will be a chance to talk with the guest speakers. v
DFA Annual Grower Forum guest speakers:
Kevin Bodnaruk Kevin Bodnaruk currently works in the area of pesticide regulation and risk assessment. He has more than 35 years’ experience in the areas of pesticide development, use and regulation, having worked in both government and private enterprise. Kevin currently works as a consultant providing technical and regulatory input/support to Australian agricultural industries, government agencies, research and development corporations, such as Hort Innovation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, and internationally with the Food and Agriculture Organization. Kevin is an expert on maximum residue limits (MRLs), and will discuss the impacts for spray programs in markets, particularly Europe.
20 VINE MAGAZINE
NEWS
Ferdie Botha
Ceres Imaging
Stuart Putland
Ferdie Botha is the general manager of Raisins South Africa (Raisins SA).
Ceres Imaging provides precision
Raisins SA is a non-profit company, with its main revenue derived from statutory levies, investment income, consultation fees and products.
more sustainable operations.
Dried Fruits Australia field officer Stuart Putland will present on the Australian Government-funded 10 Tonne Project, which will be finalised in March.
Raisins SA represents about 1000 growers.
Tonne Project.
The mandate of the organisation is to manage industry-related research and development, to maintain an industry database, administer the statutory levy in terms of the regulations of the National Agricultural Marketing Act and the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) and to disseminate information to the larger value chain participants. Ferdie will share his knowledge from the industry in South Africa and allow forum attendees to ask questions about an industry outside of Australia.
irrigation solutions that help farmers build more profitable and This presentation will provide information about Ceres Imaging, which was engaged by Dried Fruits Australia to assist with the 10 By combining advanced analytics and high-resolution aerial imagery, Ceres Imaging provides the full picture of irrigation system performance and crop health. The technology is used to pinpoint irrigation issues before they're visible to the naked eye, and discover opportunities to maximise returns across properties. The data can be used to optimise irrigation strategies
The project collected data that aimed to demonstrate the potential for properties to produce 10 tonnes of dried product per hectare, using the assistance of agritechnology. The project used aerial imagery and soil moisture monitoring, as well as assessed fertiliser programs over the three years of the project. This season, the project also included a trial of yield monitoring equipment to more closely assess the performance of vineyards, with data to be shared at the Grower Forum.
to boost yields and profits.
Processors Adam Briggs Adam will represent Hort
Tyson Milne Tyson Milne is the assistant director operations improvement with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). Based at the Mildura office of the MDBA, Tyson has a wealth of experience in horticulture, irrigation management and water operations.
Innovation, and present on the recently-released Australiangrown Horticulture Sustainability
The forum will hear from representatives from both of the industry’s processors, Australian Premium Dried Fruits (APDF) and Sunbeam Foods.
Framework and benefits for dried
APDF CEO Craig Greenwood and
grape production systems.
Sunbeam Foods general manager
The new framework is a guide to help the horticulture sector share its sustainable, ethical, and safe farming practice stories with stakeholders.
Grant Leyden will present on the current market and the season that was, as well as share news from within the industry and a look ahead to the future.
VINE MAGAZINE 21
NEWS
Industry's sounding board Some of the ATGA's new and returning board members speak about their role on the board, last season's challenges, and what they're looking forward to as harvest ramps up in Sunraysia.
Jeremey Boyd ATGA Chair
Dominic Sergi Victorian delegate
How long have you been on the ATGA board / chair? It’s a stab in the dark, but I think it’s about six years on the board, and two as chair.
How long have you been on the
Why did you join the board? I joined the board to have more of an insight into how industry works, and hopefully to contribute to industry. I wanted to join with peers to collaborate and help move industry forward. I’ve been growing table grapes now for a fair while and hope that some of that knowledge is helpful.
goes on behind the scenes with
What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/ last season? Labour and markets, obviously, and the other one for me was mealybug. The amount of money I’m spending on chemicals – if I could spend that on labour I’d have enough to pick my grapes. How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? With mealybug, we used the chemicals available to us, we took leaves from around bunches. Labour – at the end of the day, it’s a supply and demand thing. We tried to pay a more attractive rate. Markets – I prayed, day and night. What else can you do? That’s at a governmental level, not a board level.
Top: Jeremey Boyd, Middle: Robert Nugan, Below: Joe Garreffa, Opposite page: Adrian Cordoma
22 VINE MAGAZINE
What's something you're looking forward to this season? I’m looking forward to the season getting underway – to somewhat of a normal season, if that’s possible? A season where we put all our produce in a box and get it to market. That would be a positive this year in itself.
ATGA board? Since 2021 Why did you join the board? To try and help the industry and get a better understanding of what the ATGA and learn from people in the process. What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/ last season? Worker numbers in peak season was a challenge but we limped over the line at the end of the season. Shipping and wharf congestion made it difficult to guarantee that your fruit was getting to the customer in good condition also. Hopefully this year it will run a little smoother – and obviously Covid was still causing issues for everyone with lockdowns and border closures, etc. How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? It was just riding the waves as new problems occurred. A lot is out of our control once the fruit leaves the shed so you just have to do the best you can to mitigate any potential issues. What’s something you’re looking forward to this season? I would hope a smoother supply chain into other countries, but we won’t know how it will all go until there is some volume leaving the country.
NEWS
Robert Nugan Victorian delegate How long have you been on the ATGA board? I was appointed in December 2021. Why did you join the board? To assist and facilitate progress on key industry matters that will help secure the future of the table grape sector. What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/ last season? - Labour shortages and compliance - Australia's complex political relationship with China and Covid made export markets more challenging How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? Labour challenges: through good planning and contractor cooperation. Fresh Produce Group (FPG) is fortunate to have a highly skilled human resources department.
Joe Garreffa New South Wales delegate How long have you ben on the ATGA board? I have been on the board of the ATGA for nine years. Why did you join the board? I joined the board because I feel passionate about the industry and try to make a contribution to improve the industry. What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/last season? The biggest challenges that we faced in 2021 were labour, freight logistics and market stability. The labour issue was definitely a big issue. Labour costs increased by up to 30 per cent. How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? I looked to various markets to replace those that had gone south. What's something you're looking forward to this season? I am looking forward to the 2022 season and hoping it will be more profitable and more sustainable.
Export challenges: just blind faith, and hard work to mitigate our challenges, along with hard work from our dedicated Asian importers; however, we didn't come out of it unscathed.
Anthony Cirillo New South Wales delegate
What's something you're looking forward to this season?
How long have you been on the ATGA board? Three months.
- In general, an improvement in the quality of our grapes.
Why did you join the board? I joined the board to help in any way I can.
- An Asian marketplace that is coming to terms with the new Covid world. - Continued tiering of the grape category to make room for both old and new varieties. Is there anything you're excited about – technology, new varieties, etc. I am excited to see that there is evidence that we can grow some more varieties (new genetics) following successful trials. I am also excited that FPG has been appointed as a marketer of SUN WORLD® grapes on the east coast.
Adrian Cordoma Victorian delegate How long have you been on the ATGA board? Three years. Why did you join the board? To help give the younger growers a voice and help to provide as much knowledge as possible to maintain a better industry for the future. What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/
What was/were the biggest challenge/s you faced in 2021/ last season? Shipping and labour were the biggest issues for me in 2021.
last season? Not enough skilled labour to harvest during crucial timing matched with poor growing conditions. How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? Strict quality control during harvest and higher attention to detail on watering during critical periods. What’s something you’re looking forward to this season? Eating my AutumnCrisp when it’s ready.
How (if you did) did you manage and mitigate that challenge? I have tried to spread our harvest and shipping over a longer period of time.
Hands down best-flavoured grape.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this season? I'm looking forward to any new export opportunities our industry has to offer.
Hopefully the borders will open up
Is there anything you’re excited about – technology, new varieties, etc.? to give us some more labour.
VINE MAGAZINE 23
NEWS
Jenny’s decades of dedication
Jenny Treeby first joined the Dried Fruits Australia board as a way to give back to an industry that had already given her so much. Now, more than 20 years on, Jenny has retired from the board and reflected on her decades in the industry. Jenny officially stepped down from her board position at the DFA AGM late last year, and DFA chair Mark King said she had been a great asset to the organisation. “She always put her hand up to help, whether attending biosecurity meetings, reading pages of reports or with constructive input at board meetings,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to travel with Jenny to Anuga, the biggest food fair in Cologne, Germany. We made work into an enjoyable task, and if anyone has stood at a booth for 10 hours they will know that it can become quite tedious but Jenny was always happy to hold the fort, while I got the coffee.” Mark thanked Jenny for her commitment and dedication to the Australian dried fruit industry.
24 VINE MAGAZINE
“I will miss her and the staff and board will miss her, but as she now works with the table grape sector, we will still see her around.”
“Coming back, I felt that I should give something back to the industry that had invested in me and so I decided to stand for the board,” Jenny said.
A way to give back
“The rest is history.”
Jenny’s contribution to the board began in 2000 when she received an invitation to a leadership skills program held at the CSIRO in Merbein.
Jenny would go on to spend more than 20 years on the board, as well as serving on the Drying for Profit Committee, and chairing it for several years.
“The two-day program was jointly run by the Victorian and Murray Valley Wine Grape Growers Council and the Dried Fruits Research and Development Council,” she said. “I really enjoyed the program and when the offer was made to further hone my skills or, in my case actually acquire them, through a rural leadership program at Marcus Oldham College, I grabbed the chance.” Jenny said she enjoyed the course, which expanded her network to other participants and commodity representatives from across Australia. The course pushed her outside her comfort zone with radio interviews, negotiations, interpersonal skills and personal assertiveness skills.
Her work included involvement in producing an occupational health and safety manual for the region with other horticulture industries, as well as starting the BMP booklets.
Reflecting on the highlights Jenny said representing growers, being part of the board team – and not “the female board member” – as well as working with different chairs, CEOs and field officers to better position the industry and drive innovation were highlights of her tenure. During her time on the board, Jenny also enjoyed the opportunities to go to South Africa, Germany and China to represent the industry and learn more about how other growers and industries work, think and live.
NEWS
“The contacts and connections made on these trips have been unique, helpful and unforgettable,” she said. Another highlight was representing DFA in biosecurity matters. “As this is a relatively small industry, being co-operative, constructive and pragmatic has helped to get a good standing with other industries and governments,” Jenny said. “Having a biosecurity levy implemented, a biosecurity manual, and frameworks in place for cost reimbursement in case of a response to an exotic pest incursion has put the industry in a good spot and I am proud to have been part of the driving force behind that.”
becoming leaner and sourcing outside funding, and changes to board memberships, chairs, CEOs and field officers creating different dynamics. Through it all, Jenny said the industry maintained the strength it was built upon – sharing knowledge and information, and collaboration. “It will be interesting to see what will happen with this industry in the future though,” she said. “Properties might become amalgamated. Hopefully (the industry) can attract a younger set of growers with different skill sets that will further drive the industry.
situation. In the meantime, I still believe that Australia produces the best dried fruit naturally and that it leads the world in best management practises. “I am full of gratitude to this industry that has embraced me, trusted me and given me all these opportunities to grow and represent them. It might sound soppy, but I am incredibly proud of having been a part of an industry that is so collaborative and supportive as well as growing an awesome, healthy product in a very green way.” v
“At this point in time – and without a crystal ball – it is a wait-and-see
Change and looking to the future It’s no surprise Jenny has seen her fair share of changes in the industry over the past 20 years. “There’s been a move to different trellising, varieties and irrigation, and thus production methods, which has been good to see,” she said. In addition to the changes to management practises on the blocks, Jenny has also witnessed organisational change, with DFA
2021 DFA AGM Dried Fruits Australia held its 2021 AGM at Willow and Ivie in Irymple in November. The event gave a season overview for the members and invited guests in
The board also welcomed James Moriarty, who is a new grower representative joining the DFA board for the first time. The DFA board farewelled Luke
attendance, both in person and online.
Lory, who did not renominate, and
Chair Mark King provided highlights of
retiring board member Jenny Treeby,
the 2020-21 year, and presented the annual report, which can now be found, along with financial reports, within
recognised the contributions of who stepped down after 20 years of service.
the members only section at www. driedfruitsaustralia.org.au Renominating board members Ashley Johnstone and Warren Lloyd were officially reappointed to the board for two years.
VINE MAGAZINE 25
NEWS
A problem shared W ORKI N G TOG ETH ER TO G ET WO R K ER S
Sunraysia’s horticulture industries are rallying for their region and banding together to draw in much-needed seasonal workers for their growers. The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA), along with Dried Fruits Australia (DFA) and Citrus Australia, has been involved in a collaborative approach to filling the sector’s workforce shortfalls, beginning with a horticulture thinktank last year. The industry bodies have since met regularly with labour hire providers and the Victorian Labour Hire Authority, Victorian Government representatives and regional organisations to assess the needs of seasonal workers and understand how to promote employment opportunities that exist across all of the industries. The seasonal worker network which has developed as a result has had a ripple effect for industry and local organisations who are keen to assist industries with the uptake of workers.
26 VINE MAGAZINE
Sessions have also included jobseeker outreach.
“This will give participants an
A Sunraysia horticulture industries’ brochure has been developed to showcase the region and industries to seasonal workers in Australia and internationally.
farm,” she said.
Independently, both ATGA and DFA have been working on their own seasonal worker initiatives.
Partnering with CALD community DFA will this year partner with Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) in an effort to help fill the industry’s demand for seasonal workers. The Victorian Government-funded Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Program (SWISP), in collaboration with SMECC and the cultural and linguistically diverse community (CALD), aims to train a cohort of 20 to 30 people in various vine pruning techniques specific to the dried grape industry. DFA CEO Anne Mansell said a short film had already been developed to showcase dried grape pruning methods.
understanding of what’s required onFurther translated material will also be provided to anyone registering to take part in the training. Training in pruning will be provided by experienced dried grape producers. “With the current lack of available casual labour impacting growers at pruning time, DFA, with support from the Victorian Government, is trying to find a workable solution and this program is one way of doing this,” Anne said.
Spotlight on industry The ATGA has continued to put the spotlight on seasonal work in the table grape industry to entice workers to “give table grapes a go”. Previous editions of the Vine have highlighted the Victorian Governmentfunded SWISP project, which allowed ATGA to create three films to promote seasonal work in the table grape industry. These films have now been produced, including a vital snapshot of industry, featuring on-farm work, accommodation options, lifestyle
NEWS
options in growing regions, community and wellbeing support and much more. Two 360° films, released in 2021, gave an insight into the work involved in both the vineyard and the packing shed, with a fly-on-the-wall perspective. The films are also set to be translated into other languages to ensure optimum accessibility for CALD communities. The SWISP project also included the development several comprehensive resources for industry, such as seasonal worker testimonials, consultation with wider horticulture industries, and much more. While industry bodies are to ensure growers are well-prepared to tackle this and future seasons, it’s important to note that growers have a role to play in ensuring their workers are safe, and the contractors they use are licensed. The Victorian Labour Hire Licencing Authority stipulates that growers – many of who are “hosts” – must use a licensed labour hire provider. Hosts must only use licensed labour hire providers or face maximum penalties of: $145,392 for an individual and $581,568 for a corporation. In seeking seasonal workers, industry bodies recommend growers plan in advance for the workers they need, and also put their best foot forward when posting job advertisements or on any social media pages. v
VINE MAGAZINE 27
TRIBUTE
Tribute: Peter MacIntosh Dried Fruits Australia has paid tribute to a long-time dried fruit grower and leader in the industry. Robinvale dried fruit grower and former Australian Dried Fruits Association (ADFA) chair Peter MacIntosh passed away in October last year. The son of soldier settler in Robinvale, Victoria, Peter had a long involvement in the industry, and was a grower member of the ADFA board in 1981, before taking over as ADFA chairman in 1992. Peter grew dried grapes on his family property in Robinvale and was the chairman of the Robinvale Branch of the ADFA. He made a significant contribution to both the dried grape industry, as well as the wider horticulture industry, also serving as a member of the advisory committee of the Sunraysia Horticultural Research Institute, lrymple, chair of the ADFA Production Problems Committee, member of the Dried Fruits Research Committee, director of the Dried Fruits Stabilisation Committee Ltd, member of the Murray Industries Development Association Lt., and member of the Management Committee for Phylloxera Research of Victoria. He was also a member of the Robinvale Water Advisory Board. In an industry newsletter in 1992, Peter spoke of his sense of pride in being elected chairman of the ADFA in a time when the industry faced many challenges. “I have a strong fundamental belief that the greatest strength our industry has is its people. The ability to work hard, take risks, put up with unpredictable weather and outcomes breeds a special race,” Peter wrote in his welcome address as chairman. “We all have to look at our own
28 VINE MAGAZINE
abilities, our own strengths and weaknesses and make our own decisions about our ability to survive in this tough environment. “I look forward to the challenge of serving you as chairman, and trust that we can adapt to changed circumstances and emerge from it a stronger, vital, and profitable industry prepared to make its contribution to our towns, our regions, and our country.” Peter retired from the chair position in 1998, with Graham Robertson chair from 1998-2002, before Peter Jones took on the position in 2002. Peter Jones has provided a tribute and reflection on Peter MacIntosh’s contribution to the industry.
Great leader stands tall Peter MacIntosh was chairman of the ADFA in the 1990s. A dried fruit grower and son of a soldier settler in Robinvale, Victoria. Peter was elected to the board of management as member and subsequently chairman when the dried fruit industry was at its biggest in production of 60-90,000 tonnes annually. However, during Peter’s time at the head of the industry, political changes and calls by governments to a ”free trade” Australia policy saw great unwinding of the powers used by industry to stay united. Single price for Australian fruit set by ADFA for domestic and export sale was to be abolished, which meant a cut price war and ultimately lower returns to the growers and imports of fruit from low cost overseas countries would not be limited by the government. Statutory dried fruits boards in all states were to be dismantled. The ADFA, as members of the National Farmers’ Federation, was
well represented by Peter as he used this forum to get the attention of politicians and fellow NFF members on the devastating results to industries if the dry economists had their way in Canberra. Peter as chairman saw this “free trade” threat was real and was steamrolling its way through the economy and, at that point, the ADFA sought to de-regulate the industry on our terms, not pushed by the government bureaucrats. Pressure was also building from the wine industry’s expansion plans in the mid 1990s that offered short term profits over dried fruit. After an independent report to the BOM, Peter faced grower meetings all over Australia to inform and explain the future without Government supports. Some meetings were hostile to the news but most growers thought deeply on the issue. Peter stood tall through it all. The industry did vote to deregulate. Peter was a great leader for his community in Robinvale and for the ADFA with many years of service. v Peter Jones ADFA chairman, 2002-2009
Image: Peter MacIntosh from his appointment to the chair of the Australian Dried Fruits Association in 1992.
PROJECTS
Yielding success The Australian Table Grape Association will help facilitate the uptake of new technologies for growers this year as part of an AgriFutures Australia grant. The table grape industry was awarded $20,000 in round 2 of the AgriFutures Producer Technology Uptake Program, which promotes the adoption of new
Imagery capture will provide bunch
more innovative solutions into the
and vine specific data, scanning every
industry.
grape and bunch in 20 different table grape patches at least once during a growing season to confirm or correct bunch trimming and bunch thinning practices. "The benefits of a project like this are that producers will gain detailed information about part of their property so they can better target
technologies within agriculture.
their bunch removal activities,
ATGA industry development manager
growing systems through yield
Jenny Treeby said the project would allow the industry to conduct yield estimation on 10 producer properties in the Greater Sunraysia region.
identify weak spots within their
Jenny said the system would provide participating growers with the means to adjust production methods to enhance lower performing areas, increasing certainty across the board. “Ultimately, the activities would not only improve the financial bottom line but can also be used to rationalise water and fertiliser inputs, use of agrichemical sprays, and seasonal labour force,” she said.
mapping, increase returns by
The trial will take place over the
optimising yield and be able to
2022/23 season. More information
forecast more accurately, as well as
will be provided to growers as it
compare the cost-benefits across a
becomes available. v
“The use of machine vision is well
range of vineyards,” Jenny said.
established in horticulture for crop
Growers will also have access to an
regulation, however, uptake of this
ongoing community of practice (CoP)
technology has not been applied in
for innovation that will further extend
table grapes locally yet,” Jenny said.
the knowledge gained and attract
VINE MAGAZINE 29
BIOSECURITY
iMapPESTS SEN T I N E L AT S U N I TAF E S U C KS S P O R ES F O R A CAU S E
A new technology that could significantly improve the speed and accuracy at which high priority pests are detected is currently being tested at Sunraysia’s SuniTAFE SMART Farm.
able to generate reports providing
The sentinels could be of particular
actionable information to growers,
benefit to viticulture as they monitor
agronomists, and governments
levels of botrytis bunch rot and
for any region in which it operates.
powdery mildew spores. Over time,
This information could assist in
these results could potentially be
coordinating cross-industry responses
combined with weather data and used
to exotic pest and disease incursions.
to predict the level of disease pressure
It’s called a sentinel and it aims to
SuniTAFE, automatically collects and
However, the project does not solely
simply the monitoring of airborne
labels samples of insects and spores
monitor for pests and diseases,
pests and disease through the
from the surrounding environment
but also beneficial insects and
automated collection of insects and
and stores them for analysis. These
biodiversity. AVR has developed a high
fungal spores.
samples are then sent to SARDI and
throughput diagnostic process, based
Developed by the South Australian
Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR)
on a technology called metabarcoding,
Research and Development Institute
to be screened for high priority pests.
that can identify an enormous range
(SARDI), the sentinels are part of a
Once analysed, the data can be used
of insects. These include valuable
large multistakeholder project called
by industry to guide the direction or
predators, such as lacewings and
iMapPESTS. Still in its development
intensity of scouting efforts and pest
ladybugs, and parasitoid wasps. This
phase, iMapPESTS will eventually be
management activities.
information could be used to assist in
30 VINE MAGAZINE
Sentinel 4, currently installed at
faced in a vineyard.
BIOSECURITY
the development of integrated pest management plans. iMapPESTS is trialling the sentinels in a broad variety of environments and cropping systems. Sentinel 4 will
Led by Hort Innovation, the project has been made possible thanks to a grant under the Australian Government’s Rural R&D for Profit program, which enables nationally coordinated, strategic research that delivers real outcomes for Australian producers.
soon finish its time in Sunraysia and be moved to Coonawarra, where it will be installed in a vineyard for its next trial. v For more information or to register your interest, visit imappests.com.au or contact project coordinator, Shakira Johnson at: shakira.johnson@ausveg.com.au Left: Project coordinator Shakira Johnson demonstrates the benefits of the sentinel. Right: The sentinel aims to simplify the monitoring process of airborne pests and disease through automated collection.
Your go-to-guide for Australian horticulture industry data is out now. The 2020/21 edition of the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook provides the most up-to-date production, international trade, processing volumes and fresh-market distribution insights available to help you plan for the future. View it now at www.horticulture.com.au/hort-stats
VINE MAGAZINE 31
BIOSECURITY
Fruit fly prevention N F F C TO C ON T I NU E I TS F I G H T AG A I N ST P EST
The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) has secured funding from Hort Innovation for phase 4 of the project that will strategically coordinate fruit fly management in Australia over the next five years (2021–26). Fruit fly is one of the biggest trade barriers for horticulture products and many species of fruit fly pose a threat to Australia's horticultural industries, both endemic and exotic. In 2016 the cost of fruit fly in Australia was estimated to be $300 million due to control measures and international
to fruit fly challenges that will lead
“Phase 4 will continue to build on a
trade restrictions.
to a cost-effective and sustainable
considerable body of work in recent
approach to managing fruit flies, and
years, which has increased national
exotic fruit fly risks, across Australia.
engagement and identified priorities
The project is a joint initiative between Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Hort
to strengthen the national fruit fly
Innovation, with co-investment from
“Horticulture’s contribution to
State governments and horticultural
Australia’s Ag2030 goal of $100 billion
industries. The Council will continue
in production by 2030 relies on pest
to work with growers and fruit fly
management systems to support
Major achievements of Phase 3
management community groups across
increased productivity, market access
(2018-2021) of the project include
all states and territories to control the
and diversification, and our reputation
the production and launch of the
pest on a national scale.
for high quality and sustainable
National Fruit Fly Strategy 2020-2025
produce,” said Dr Mila Bristow, National
and annual implementation plans,
Manager Performance and Innovation
and delivery of the 2021 National
at Plant Health Australia.
Fruit Fly Symposium which brought
As a strategic advisory body, the NFFC brings fruit fly-affected stakeholders and subject matter experts together to formulate strategies and
The new project will provide a national
recommendations to strengthen the
strategic direction to manage fruit
national fruit fly system.
fly in Australia, including managing
“There is real value in having industry and government stakeholders in one room to address fruit fly issues at a national level,” said Byron De Kock, Head of Research and Development at Hort Innovation said.
the risk of exotic species to support a robust national system for trade
system and Australia’s trade position,” said Stuart Burgess, NFFC Manager.
together fruit fly stakeholders across Australia. The key strength of the council during Phase 3 was in providing a neutral platform for stakeholders to collectively examine fruit fly issues.
and production. It will prioritise
Phase 4 is unique given horticultural
research and development activities
industries’ financial contribution,
to meet fruit fly management needs.
along with past funding partners (Hort
The project will also facilitate
Innovation and State governments). v
communication and cooperation
The NFFC consists of federal
between governments, industries,
Karin Steenkamp
and state governments, industry
researchers, and communities to
Plant Health Australia
representatives, and research funders
progress strategically important
ksteenkamp@phau.com.au
who collectively consider solutions
national fruit fly issues.
32 VINE MAGAZINE
BIOSECURITY
High priority exotic pest threat BOIS NOIR
Bois noir (black wood) is a yellows-type disease of grapevine caused by a phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma solani).
while bois noir causes red, yellow or
your crop for the presence of new
brown discolouration to the entire
pests, and closely examining poorly
leaf (including veins). Overseas, bois
performing plants for signs of leaf
noir can be confused with flavescence
and vein discoloration, shrivelled
dorée (Grapevine flavescence
berries, woody appearance on stems
dorée phytoplasma) and black rot
and planthoppers. Only source
This disease was first reported in
(Guignardia bidwellii). Bois noir and
planting material from reputable and
France in 1961 and has been found
flavescence dorée cannot be visually
accredited nurseries and check for
to affect cultivated grapevines in
distinguished and require specialist
signs of disease before transferring
several European countries and the
diagnosis. Black rot blackens the
any new planting material to the field.
eastern Mediterranean region. The
berries while bois noir causes them to
pathogen affects the inner layer of
shrink and shrivel.
the bark and other parts of the plant.
What should I look for?
Bois noir accounts for serious crop losses in grapes, causing leaf and
Look for discoloured leaves (red
vein discolouration, stunted growth,
or yellow), stunted fruit growth,
shrivelled fruit and irregular ripening
short internodal spacing, browning,
of wood. Bois noir has a broad host
irregular ripening of stems with a
range and currently there are few
woody appearance, and shrivelled
effective management strategies for
or shrunken berries. Look also
this disease.
for the presence of planthopper
What does it look like? Bois noir causes infected plants to lose vigour and become stunted
How does it spread?
leaves, including leaf veins become
plant by insect vectors including
discoloured and blotched. In red
planthoppers (such as the exotic
grape varieties, leaves appear red
species Hyalesthes obsoletus,
while in white varieties, leaves and
Anaceratagallia ribauti and
veins appear chlorotic (yellow) and
Reptalus panzer). It is not known if
necrotic (dead). Leaves also have
planthoppers in Australia can spread
a down curling appearance on the
bois noir. Bois noir is also readily
blade forming a triangular shape. The
transmitted by grafting with infected
berries are shrunken, shrivelled and
plant material.
flowers appear dry in both red and
Where is it now?
What can it be confused with?
The pathogen was first reported
In Australia, the disease can be
European and Asian countries. It has
confused with Australian grapevine
not been reported in Australia.
yellows (Candidatus Phytoplasma
How can I protect my vineyard from bois noir?
viruses. Grapevine leafroll virus
Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. v
planthoppers can spread disease.
Bois noir is spread from plant to
australiense), and grapevine leafroll
in your vineyard, call the Exotic Plant
insect infestation in your vines as
with short internodal spacing. The
white varieties.
If you have noticed anything unusual
affecting grapevine in France. Since then it has been reported in several
causes leaves to turn red to purple
You can protect your farm from
or yellow with veins remaining green,
bois noir by regularly checking
VINE MAGAZINE 33
PROCESSING & MARKETING
Bright future ahead AU ST RA L I A N P R EM I U M D R I ED F R U I TS
The upcoming season is offering optimism for most growers, with better than average bunch counts on vines. Each year the new varieties (Carina/ Sunmuscat/Sunglo) deliver a higher percentage of the crop as compared to Thompsons, which will continue in 2022. The growing season for most growers has been very good, with excellent winter and spring rainfall, along with good spells of dry heat in the lead up to summer. Good prices for temporary water should also mean that shortcuts in watering the vines have been avoided. Our increasing base of growers in South Australia had to deal with some scary storm activity that produced isolated areas of hail in late 2021, but all reports are that their vineyards escaped any major losses. Therefore, at the time of writing this article, we are set up for a decent 2022 harvest, as long as Mother Nature stays kind to us. APDF volumes will increase in 2022, with some of our vineyard developments starting to produce their first and second crops this season. We are hoping for a 15-20 per cent increase in volume from 2021 that will help drive efficiencies through the increasing factory costs. We should now see steady growth over the next four to five years as our volumes grow to 10,000-plus tonnes, making the company a processor of global scale and enabling processing to continue all year round. Most people in the industry would have heard that we purchased some assets from Murray River Organics (MRO) in 2021.
34 VINE MAGAZINE
The purchase of the MRO processing facility has enabled us to upgrade elements of the APDF factory that were starting to look tired after 12 seasons of processing. It’s extremely important that APDF continues to invest in the processing equipment to keep us at the forefront of quality finished products, which much of this equipment will allow us to do. We also are delighted to have secured the 100-acre vineyard next to our factory. Our grower liaison Larry Dichiera is managing the vineyard and has already made some huge improvements to make the property a showpiece for our business that visitors to our factory will be able to view as part of a full process tour. Larry will also be able to host grower field events at the property in coming years. This Wargan vineyard will be a tremendous asset to work with our growers on vineyard training and trials going forward. We held a very successful grower dinner in December at Willow and Ivie, attended by 120 people. It was an amazing social evening where we were able to give an update to growers on APDF’s progress and, more importantly, enhance the community spirit and positivity we are excited to see build again with our dried fruit industries resurgence. For the first time in a long time, the dried fruit industry is going into a period of growth, which is a sign that much of the hard work done to mechanise the industry is starting to pay off. Having so many dried fruit industry people in one room, enjoying a social event and talking positively about the industry was a real highlight for many of our APDF team. It fills us with confidence that the future for our
historic industry is bright and one we are looking forward to. We want to support and promote the implementation of the digital spray diaries that the industry is hoping to have in place for the 2023 crop. This will mean we are hoping to roll out the software and training after the 2022 harvest is complete. APDF has been involved with this thorough process with Anne Mansell and Stuart Putland at DFA, and we are confident that the spray diary will be a great asset to growers and the industry. We are always under pressure from major customers to have strict compliance and governance with chemical spray records, so this professional upgrade for the dried fruit industry will be another credible step ahead for Australian dried grape growers. We know this will be a great asset to us all, so please be ready to implement this process in the second half of 2022. v Enquiries: Grower liaison officer Larry Dichiera, larry@apdf.com.au 0488 199 221
PROCESSING & MARKETING
Focus on yield and quality S U N BE A M F O O D S & A N G AS PA R K
Now is the time of year when all the focus is on converting the potential of the crop through to reality. Vine fruit and prune crops are both showing an increase in crop size from 2021 and markets are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new season’s fruit.
Dried vine fruit We have announced our pricing arrangements for 2022 where there are increased prices across all main varieties and grades. This is reflective of Sunbeam’s strong sales and confidence in our products in all three-market sectors. Retail, export and industrial channels are performing very well and the only concern is we are undersupplying some customers due to limited supply. The retail market continues to hold up well under the Covid environment. There is a clear trend of more uptake in baking as families are at home for extended periods, which has helped dried fruit sales.
2021 All Australian 18 Quality and Export Awards Our Sunbeam All Australian 18 Quality Awards and Export Award have been announced for 2021. The focus of these awards, now in their 13th year, is on producing the best quality fruit to meet market expectations. The five best performers are awarded “Best on Ground” for their achievements, with 13 suppliers completing the 18-team members selected. Our congratulations go to all our winners. 2021 Best On Ground: J & J Hunt, P Liakos, D & N Smith, TJ & BJ George, AK Webley 2021 Team Members:
Nicholls Mildura Trust (S & J Nicholls), MR & BL King, PG & RL Melton, Hapville Pty Ltd (T & K Martin), Quible Pty Ltd (R & M Burton), T & L Palamara, P & C Coppola, R & E Kennedy, SuniTAFE, WT McClumpha, DP Langdon, CF & HD Dalla Santa and RS Burton. Since 2012, we have awarded a $5000 cash prize to the supplier who delivers the best export quality sultanas or sunmuscats. In 2021, Nicholls Mildura Trust (S & J Nicholls) won this award for their high quality sultanas (Bruce’s Sport).
Prunes There has been strong demand across all our prune products, putting pressure on our inventory. We are keenly awaiting the intake of the new crop. After carrying over small size prunes for the past three years, the world shortage delivered an opportunity to quit the surplus and at reasonable prices. Normally we are at the mercy of the large quantities of Chilean prunes on offer and we have been unable (and unwilling) to compete with the low returns.
Sunbeam business An exciting development is the construction of a Sunbeam Foods dedicated warehouse distribution centre adjacent to our Irymple factory. This will bring our finished goods distribution back from the capital cities and have direct distribution to customer warehouses from Irymple. The 7500 square metre warehouse construction will begin shortly and is due for completion in December 2022.
Dried tree fruit Angas Park will this year start to replant the Pike River Orchard with the latest SARDI-developed apricot varieties. The first phase will see 27 hectares of bare land and underperforming trees be replanted with the superior higher yielding, lower dry ratio varieties. This demonstrates our commitment to Australian dried apricot production and the confidence in the Australian product and market potential.v Enquiries: Supply manager dried fruit David Swain / 0407 834 044
We are exploring ways to continue to regularly sell this fruit on the export market to reduce the necessity to hold on to carryover stock.
Field officer (including SA) Alan Lister / 0409 437 801
2021 Prune Quality Awards
Dried tree fruits operations manager (Loxton) Luke Fitzsimmons / 0431 894 515
In 2015, we introduced our Angas Park Prune Quality Awards. The awards recognise our best producers of optimum sized high quality, free flowing, efficiently graded and processed prunes, which meet our customers’ requirements.
Field officer Gary Simpson / 0429 960 234
Our focus is always on food safety and providing customers and consumers with the best possible prunes. Congratulations go to the following outstanding achievers for 2021: Kidman Way Farming (A & G Delves), Sainty Road Farming (C & K Tropeano) and C & J Pastro.
VINE MAGAZINE 35
ATGA MARKETING
Campaigns & canapes DOME ST I C MA RK ETI N G & WEB S I TE N EWS
Hort Innovation will launch its domestic marketing program shortly ahead of the peak domestic season.
the industry which will form the basis
technology and innovation, food safety
of the strategic marketing plan and
and quality are all vital for elevating
campaign for the export season
the reputation of Australian table
in 2022.
grapes.
The table grape domestic marketing
Serving it up
Farm images and videos, including
program will run from late February to
The ATGA website is serving up some
April, and include marketing activities
delicious new updates, following the
close-up images of grapes all make
such as national radio, digital banner
addition of a serving suggestions page.
online advertising with Newscorp, and social media, to drive top-of-mind awareness and consideration of both Australian table grapes and Western Australian table grapes. Key messages will focus on the quality and taste attributes and a call-to-action to drive purchases. A shopper-focussed campaign with a major retailer is planned to help drive
The serving suggestions combine recipes from previous Australian table grapes domestic marketing content, and provide consumers a great opportunity to see the diversity in preparing and serving table grapes.
Grapes Facebook page or Instagram (@AussieGrapes), the Australian Table Grape Association Facebook, Twitter or Linked In, Hort Innovation’s now to receive useful updates on industry to your social feeds.
online advertising for online grocery
Sharing recipes and other content on
shopping.
social media gives buyers an insight into the provenance of Australia’s table grapes, who produces them and where they are grown.
Mildura in December to capture critical
Industry news and projects which show
areas of focus and priority markets for
Australia’s commitment to traceability,
36 VINE MAGAZINE
If you’re not following the Australian
networks to share content, which helps
Social sharing
with the export working group in
brand front of mind. v
should make use of their social media
journey with in-store radio, front-
partners (ISP) team ran a workshop
exporters’ markets, and keeping your
Facebook or Twitter, be sure to follow
conversion by interrupting the shopper
The marketing and industry strategic
great content for engaging with
Throughout the season, growers
build their brand.
of-store displays, and digital banner
vineyards at harvest, grower profiles,
Follow us @AussieGrapes
TECHNOLOGY
All hands on tech I N N OVATI O N I N AG R I C U LTU R E
Whether you subscribe to the latest podcasts, invest in all the gadgets available, or follow precision farming tech trends, or you like to keep things simple, chances are anything that helps reduce the pressure on growers to have a hand on every vine is welcome. This edition, we feature a podcast, website and app that look at some of the ways technology is advancing agriculture and solving challenges facing the sector.
APP
PODCAST
WEBSITE
Fieldmargin is an easy-to-use farm management tool that is flexible enough to record everything that happens on your farm. The app is designed for cropping, livestock and horticulture, allowing growers to keep track of fruit production on the go or from the office. Easily share planting areas, jobs and issues with your team, and track work progress and yield.
The Modern Acre Podcast encourages listeners to learn from the entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders that are changing the food and agriculture industry on and off the farm.
CSIRO has launched three national missions, together with partners across government, research and industry, to help Australia realise a vision for the future of Australia’s agriculture sector.
The Modern Acre is a community of farmers, professionals, and entrepreneurs passionate about building their agriculture businesses through modern-day innovation and technology.
The missions look into the future to address the threats we see coming at Australia – like a changing climate, the resilience of our economy, and changing consumer trends – and use science to turn threat into opportunity.
Tell me more … Fieldmargin allows growers to record vineyards and divide properties into smaller areas for different varieties. Field work – including spraying, fertilising and harvest – can be listed and allocated to team members. Notes for tasks, such as spray rates, can also be recorded. How does it benefit growers? Growers can plan their work, add tasks, keep records and share work with their team. Harvest yields (in weight or as a count) can be recorded on the go, and can be compared across property areas.
Tell me more … The Modern Acre Podcast has more than 200 episodes, spanning a diverse range of topics, including regenerative agriculture, bitcoin, farm robots, renewable energy, food supply chains, aerial imaging, product branding, automation, solving food waste problems with technology, agtech startups, agriculture e-commerce and women in agriculture. How does it benefit growers?
Reports for crop areas, inputs, yield and costs can also be recorded in the app.
While The Modern Acre Podcast is produced in California in the United States, listeners can gain an insight into many areas of agriculture, specifically technology in agriculture.
Cost and availability:
Cost and availability:
Google Play, AppStore and as a web app. Cost: Free and premium subscription options.
Free to listen on Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher.
Tell me more … The three missions include Drought Resilience, Trusted Agrifood Exports, and Future Protein. The Trusted Agrifood Exports Mission aims to boost the value of Australia’s agricultural exports by $10 billion, using science-based tools to help meat, grains and horticultural products reach new markets while protecting their competitive advantage. How does it benefit growers? Growers can access and read all about CSIRO’s mission online, where they can gain an insight into the future of agriculture in Australia and be prepared for forecast changes in the sector. Cost and availability: Free to access online at www.csiro. au/en/about/challenges-missions/
VINE MAGAZINE 37
PROFILE
Profile Lachlan Mannes
Bug lord and beekeeper Lachlan Mannes is both friend and foe to Sunraysia’s bug populations.
a little bit of pomegranate and avocados. This year we’re doing cherries. There are so many others!
The director of Mannes Entomology, Lachie is a wealth of knowledge and a guiding light for the region’s horticulture producers, scouting for pests and diseases throughout the year and assisting growers with their pest and disease management programs.
grapes, have you focused on?
When and how did your career begin and what path did it take? I did a degree in agricultural science in Adelaide back in the 1990s and majored in plant entomology. At the end of that I came back to Mildura. The Department of Agriculture, as it was known back then, got me to do a bit of work on pistachios, as well as editing a magazine. Then Horticulture Pest Management Services was looking for someone, so I worked with them. When they folded, I went to work with Fruit Doctors for a while, and then I went out on my own after that. What industries have you been involved in? Citrus, wine grapes, table grapes,
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What key areas within these industries, particularly in table We mainly focus on the pest and disease side of things. The main diseases would be powdery mildew and botrytis, not so much downy mildew. With pests, light brown apple moth and mealybug are the two main ones that growers hate. When we’re going through the patches, if we notice something is not growing right or has nutrient deficiencies we’ll notify, but pest and diseases are our main concern. What changes have you noticed in the table grape industry throughout your career? The biggest change is the tightening up of chemical use and the banning of chemicals. We’ve really noticed that as you get toward the end of the season and you get a late emergence of mealybug or apple moth flying in we’re really running out of things that we can use to control them with without ruining all the export markets. A lot of the stuff you’ve only got until pea-size or flowering and then you can’t use it.
That late season stuff is tricky – you can walk into a patch and walk out because you have nothing you can do. That’s really frustrating! From our perspective, we feel bad, but from a grower’s point of view, they put all their effort into their block and with a late emergence there’s nothing they can do. That’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve seen change. What do you see for the future of the table grape industry in regard to pest & disease management? I can see a lot of research being done on pheromones and attractants – attractant traps etc. – otherwise it’ll just be growers swinging. What is your advice to growers? If growers don’t have scouts on their properties, it’s a matter of not putting pests and disease management last. Growers can’t put the bugs off. When it comes to the bug side of things, if they don’t have a pest scout they need to lock it in every fortnight and go for a walk. Get in there and have a look, know what you’re looking for and don’t skip it. v
COMMUNITY
Notice board About 120 people attended Australian Premium Dried Fruits’ grower dinner in December. The event at Willow & Ivie was a social evening for APDF to give growers an update on the processor’s progress, but most importantly gave a chance for the growing community to unite in a positive celebration of the industry’s recent period of growth.
Sunraysia's table grape growers converged on Mildura and Euston in December for the ATGA's annual grower forums. Hort Innovation's industry strategic partner Dumisani Mhlanga (left) spoke about levy spend, joined by marketing team members (right), while ATGA CEO Jeff Scott discussed markets and trade.
Mark King (Chair) Producer, Pomona
Grant Leyden Sunbeam Foods
Warren Lloyd (Deputy Chair)
Craig Greenwood
Producer, Irymple
Australian Premium Dried Fruits
Stephen Bennett Producer, Merbein
Michael Scalzo
Tony Martin Producer, Merbein
BOARD
BOARD
Australian Premium Dried Fruits
Ashley Johnstone Producer, Irymple
James Moriarty Producer,
David Swain Sunbeam Foods
Duxton Dried Fruits
Jeremey Boyd (Chair), Victoria
Joe Garreffa New South Wales
Rocky Mammone (Deputy Chair), Victoria
Peter Nuich Western Australia
Nick Muraca Victoria
Robert Nugan Victoria
David Agg South Australia
Zoe Dichiera Queensland
Dominic Sergi Victoria
Anthony Cirillo New South Wales
Adrian Cordoma Victoria
Disclaimer: Dried Fruits Australia, the Australian Table Grape Association and Hort Innovation acknowledge contributions made by private enterprise through placement of advertisements in this publication. Acceptance of these contributions does not endorse or imply endorsement of any product or service advertised by contributors and we expressly disclaim all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of information in the Vine. Reliance on any information provided in the Vine is entirely at your own risk. Dried Fruits Australia, the Australian Table Grape Association and Hort Innovation are not responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any person’s negligence or otherwise, or from reliance on information contained in the Vine, or your use or non-use of the material. Copyright © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2022. Copyright subsists in the Vine. Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Hort Innovation) owns the copyright, other than as permitted under the Copyright ACT 1968 (Cth). The Vine (in part or as a whole) cannot be reproduced, published, communicated or adapted without the prior written consent of Hort Innovation and both ATGA and DFA.
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