Facing challenges head-on

A note from our chair

What a challenging year 2022 was with a wet harvest, a shortage of labour during harvest and pruning and a huge percentage of fruit needing to be dehydrated. This was followed by a wet spring, which brought on downy mildew and powdery mildew.

Downy has had quite an impact, with bunches drying up and falling off, vines losing leaves and some turning yellow. The final percentage of loss won't be known until after harvest. This has been a real shock to some growers. It’s heart-wrenching to see what you have put your work into gone. If you know a grower who has lost their crop, give them a ring and ask how they are going. A phone call could make all the difference.

We are confident demand will be strong this year, but we won't have supply to meet it.

DFA, along with the processors, have been putting the word out there that supply could be an issue this year and the reason why. We have been actively telling buyers that plantings are growing and we would be looking for markets.

For those that have lost their crop or those that have lost a high percentage, you need to do your sums as to whether it is worth harvesting. Look at the costs and returns, as well as how you will prune in 2023.

Remember DFA, Australian Premium Dried Fruits and Sunbeam have field reps if you are unsure on what is the best option. Give them a ring – another set of eyes having a look may help you make an informed decision.

News from our CEO

This year has proven to be challenging for our industry. Coming off the back of a wet 2022 harvest, the industry was affected by a wet spring and the disease pressures that come with it.

This is no doubt going to affect our 2023 crop intake, which will not only affect our growers’ income, but also dried fruits sales and marketing programs with reduced supply volume.

On the positive side, I am confident our industry platform is well established. Business fundamentals are sound and solid. There is strong demand for our quality Australian dried fruits, both in domestic and overseas markets, and plantings are increasing.

Leaving mother nature aside, one thing we can manage and control is working collaboratively, more strategically and harder than before.

Welcome to our new DFA board members Ashley Chabrel and Rowena Smart. Ash is an excellent grower and leader with vast experience in the dried and wine grape industries. Rowena is a proud next generation new dried grape grower with passion, energy and forward thinking. More on pages 28-29.

Chaired by Ashley Johnstone, the Innovation Committee was established for growers, investors, processors and marketers to work as a group to come up with innovative ideas, forward thinking and priority projects for the industry. I welcome anyone involved in the industry to participate, share your innovative ideas and help the industry to streamline its priorities.

The New Varieties Committee, chaired by Stephen Bennett, is progressing well. There are promising varieties in the pipeline that will become available to the industry soon.

DFA will continue working with processors to establish market access and customer networks in 2023 to promote our industry and to build a solid foundation for an expected bumper 2024 crop.v