With rainfall not letting up in Victoria and New South Wales, and Western Australia continuing to bake under cloudless skies, the weather is posing challenges for Australia’s stonefruit sector.
Drought-breaking rains during spring in the east of the country were initially celebrated by growers there, but as they continue into the summer months some may well be missing the hot and dry conditions of previous years.
There was a delayed start to the season and most growers in the region that Fruitnet.com spoke to have reported harvesting commenced about two weeks later than previous years.
Early rain and high chill hours got the season off to a good start, but growers said they need more sun and dry conditions for fruit to obtain good sugar levels.
Russell Field, who manages Montague Fresh’s Bilmont orchard near Swan Hill, said he expected volumes would be up on previous years and that the crop looked good, despite some problems caused by the rains.
“At the moment we’re picking around the rain. It has caused a small amount of splitting but volumes are looking good,” he said. “It will be a low-sugar year though because of the weather – but the fruit is colouring up well.”
Likewise, reports from Western Australia indicate a good crop despite adverse growing conditions.
Mark Pidgeon of United Exports told Fruitnet.com plum volumes looked good and most growers had experienced good flowering and fruit set. “The challenge now for growers will be to maintain size standards here in the near-drought conditions. There was very little rain here over winter. Water usage will be monitored very closely by growers,” he said.
Melissa Cross of Australian Global Exports said the crop was a week earlier than previous years, which meant harvesting in the northern regions would begin prior to Christmas, and during the first week of January in the south.
“Crops are up on last year’s supply by approximately 15 per cent and the quality is exceptional, with flowering at the right time.”
With harvesting in eastern regions running late exports into Asia may not begin in earnest until later in the month.
“As the domestic market for stonefruit is quite strong, due to the lack of fruit in general, we don’t expect prices to be at a level where they will be workable for export until around mid-December,” says Costa Exchange export sales manager Brett Pickering.
This season has seen the reopening of the Taiwanese market to Australian peaches and nectarines, and while welcomed by the industry, it has not been the cause for celebration that could be expected considering the damage caused to the industry when it closed at the start of 2006.
“We can ship nectarines and peaches this year, but with less around and with strong domestic demand, I’m unsure of what can be shipped there for this first season,” said Mrs Cross.
Colleen Dangerfield from Holman Fresh said despite a shortage of fruit for export the industry needed to start exporting into Taiwanto re-establish the market there.
“If we get some good fruit into Taiwan then that should relieve some of the pressure on Hong Kong. If you can take some volume out of other markets it will take the burden off, and hopefully increase grower returns.”
While much has been made of the reopening of the Taiwanese market, industry figures spoken to by Fruitnet.com said China is where the sector can make the biggest gains.
“When you see the growth in China and the second-tier people who all want top-quality produce –it’s definitely the number one destination for us,” said Summerfruit Australia chairman Ian McAllister. “We believe the market in China is huge.”
Currently Australian stonefruit does not have direct access to China, but it is expected to follow table grapes, which were granted access in October of this year.
