NEWS
Bright future ahead The dried grape industry has a bright future, according to retiring CEO Anne Mansell, who has reflected on her time in the position and shared her hopes for the future of the industry.
me, and worked on various friends’
Anne said DFA’s field officer Stuart
properties picking and doing racks,
Putland had the technical dried grape
driving tractors and the like.”
growing knowledge, which meant she
In looking back at her five-and-a-
could focus on being “strategic in
half years with DFA, Anne hoped her
where we wanted to take the industry”.
legacy would be her work fostering
“At the time I started in the role, it was
collaboration across the industry.
really about making sure we expanded
“I think the key for any industry to
the export market and getting the
Anne joined Dried Fruits Australia in
move ahead and move forward has
price parameters right,” she said.
February 2017, bringing with her a
always been to work together,” she
“It was about trying to get that price
wealth of experience in policy, politics
said.
kicked up so growers would stay in
and regional development – as well
“Between us all here – our team here
the industry. To do that, the focus was
as an upbringing surrounded by fruit blocks.
at DFA – that’s what we’ve really tried
on increasing exports, because that’s
to foster by working with our growers
where the high price was at that point
“I was brought up next door to a dried
and our processors collaboratively to
in time.”
grape and citrus packing shed,” Anne
hopefully bring a more positive future to the industry.
Anne worked closely with processors
said. “My mum’s family and my dad’s
“It’s about lifting everyone so the
for Australian dried grapes. Germany
family had both been in dried grape
whole industry can be performing at
and Italy had been “classic markets”,
production, but my parents weren't.
a high level and therefore benefit the
but Anne was keen to see what
But I grew up – like everyone else
local economy, regional economy, and
opportunities existed for the industry
around here – with it surrounding
the greater Australian economy.”
in Asia.
and growers to find the best markets
"I think there's a strong positive future for our industry. We might be small, but at the end of the day we're kicking some great goals."
Thomas Cheung and Anne Mansell
22 VINE MAGAZINE
