Celebrating excellence while planning for progress
The winter edition of AFG is always a highlight for me – it celebrates the incredible achievements of the individuals from across our industry who lead by example through their invaluable contributions and lift the standard for us all. This year, we recognise eight exceptional recipients of the APAL Awards for Excellence, including two who have Lifetime Achievement honours.
Congratulations to Scott Price, Paul James, Brett Squibb, Nic Giblett, Sam Licciardello, Travis Georgopoulos, Shane Priest and Dr Hannah James on receiving this year’s awards.
In a slightly different format, this year’s award recipients were announced in Industry Juice on 4 June, and their achievements will be celebrated in person at the APAL Awards for Excellence event in the Goulburn Valley on Monday 4 August, ahead of the Technical Symposium. You can read more about the award recipients on page 9 of the winter edition of AFG.
Reflections from the regions
With harvest now wrapped up across the regions, grower visits by the APAL team remain a vital touchpoint. Recent trips to Tasmania and Batlow were no exception, with feedback from growers helping to inform and refine crop forecasts for the year and understand the challenges, priorities and opportunities in each region.
In Batlow, reports of a strong season for quality and colour were encouraging to hear, despite visibly dry orchards and depleted dams spotted across the region. Contrast this with the devastation on the NSW north coast, which faced record flooding – a stark reminder of the unpredictable force of nature that any agricultural industry is challenged by. Unseasonably warm conditions across many regions may impact fruit quality and storability, highlighting the importance of effective postharvest management to ensure consistent supply crucial to ensuring a healthy year-round supply.
Strategic growth, market balance and new opportunities
Achieving the right balance between supply and demand remains fundamental to our shared success. When on the ground in Tasmania, growers shared candid feedback: APAL’s message around removing underperforming or inefficient blocks is being heard. This is evident in the ongoing Orchard Census work across the regions.
Encouragingly, many growers are making informed business decisions when it comes to orchard management. However, where we’ve observed removals, we’ve also found new plantings, driven more by nursery availability or a shift to high-density plantings than by long-term planning. Without a clear strategy, this approach risks creating new supply imbalances in the future.
From crop forecasts and the national Orchard Census to analysis of domestic consumption and improving market access, we continue to unlock insights and opportunities for growers to better understand supply and demand.
A significant step forward is the recently announced market access for mainland apples to China, a process that was initiated in 2008. While international in nature, this development is just as important domestically. It helps diversify market options and reduce our reliance on a highly concentrated domestic market.
It may seem that, after months of Senate inquiries, public hearings and media hype surrounding the supermarkets inquiry, the efforts of the ACCC and its final report have gone quiet. However, the timing of the federal election was responsible for slowing this process. Jeremy’s advocacy update provides the latest developments on what’s to come.
Having recently spent time with Neil Rechlin from NextGen Group, APAL will be offering sales desk training to strengthen skills in negotiation and retail engagement. This is part of a broader commitment to professional development across the industry.
The upcoming APAL Technical Symposium in the Goulburn Valley will also offer a wealth of learning and networking opportunities – from R&D presentations and Masterclasses to Leadership Training and a Field Day. I encourage you and your teams to take part and I look forward to seeing you there.
