Processing & marketing Sunbeam Foods

All eyes on season 2021/22

SUNBEAM FOODS & ANGAS PARK

The 2020/2021 season is behind us and attention turns to the preparation of the vineyards and orchards to set a solid base for the 2021/22 crops.

Pruning of all crops is in full swing, while growers reflect on the yields of the previous season and how they can be improved to maximise their returns in the future.

Dried vine fruit

There is strong demand from all the marketing channels that Sunbeam has a presence in – export, industrial and retail – and Australian fruit is top of the buyer’s lists. A general shortage of fruit will have a rationing approach applied to most of these markets to maintain the relationships for future increased supply. Yield Improvement Program – Towards 10t/h

The industry benchmark for dried vine fruit is 10 tonnes per hectare (4 tonnes per acre). Most growers have this target in mind and, over the next six months, our field officers will be working closely with our growers to facilitate management practices to work towards this benchmark.

Experience shows us that there are usually only minimal costs and management variations involved to increasing yields, whether this is from improved nutrition programs or water amounts and timing.

Industry Spray Diary

Dried Fruits Australia has prepared the 2021/22 Spray Diary after thoroughly reviewing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for all chemicals. It is a given now that there are more and more restrictions coming in, so it is of the utmost importance that growers follow the Spray Diary protocol to avoid any fruit rejections at the receival point. The setting spray used for currants with the active ingredient chlormequat is under industry review and subject to a research project to determine its effectiveness.

Research results to date show that there is no positive effect on the number of berries set with various rates of chlormequat application (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) trialled. While a resolution is still at least 12 months away, a reduction or deletion of use is our present objective.

Prunes

As the world is facing a temporary short supply of prunes, the opportunity to clear our carry-over of small-sized prunes will be capitalised on. The strong enquiries from Asia has resulted in a large quantity of export product directed to these undersupplied markets. These markets would normally be serviced by Chile at low comparative Australian returns but, due to the shortage, the price has improved to a point where the export sales are attractive.

Grading of the 2021 crop is progressing to plan and, as forecast, the average size is towards the larger pittable range.

Dried tree fruit

The chill units achieved in the Riverland are tracking behind the benchmark of 2017 by 15 to 20% (mid-July). The July—August period will be critical to get the trees to a fruitful position before full bud burst.

Angas Park is currently promoting apricots in the Woolworth’s Fresh Ideas magazine. The advertorial focus is on the Southern Hemisphere style apricot, that has superior flavour and colour to the Mediterranean style that is the cheaper option in the retail market place. v

Enquiries: Supply manager dried fruit David Swain | 0407 834 044 Field officer (including SA) Alan Lister | 0409 437 801 Field officer Gary Simpson | 0429 960 234 Dried tree fruit operations manager (Loxton) Luke Fitzsimmons | 0431 894 515