2021 Autumn Future Orchards® Walk – Southern Victoria
Is Covid-19 reshaping our orchards and industry?
In coming years, we may reflect on 2020 as the year we saw a step-change in how our industry attracts and retains permanent and seasonal labour.
So what could a more resilient and reliable labour supply look like, how will our orchard design and operations need to change, and how will this flow through to immediate and longer-term business investments and profitability?
Ross Wilson and Craig Hornblow from AgFirst will join our Autumn Future Orchards® walks online from New Zealand to explore some actions that you can take to reshape your labour needs and your orchard to
- get the job done on time and well
- reduce the costs of labour per kg of fruit
- ensure orchards are workable by a broader demographic of staff, and
- make orchards an employer of choice
Local orchard walk – Old Oak Orchards
Nic Finger of Fruit Help and our hosts Andrew and Gavin Corbett of Old Oak Orchards will take us in-orchard to discuss
- New planting systems and varieties (Envy, Kanzi – both single and twin stem configurations, SweeTango)
- Producing high quality fruit from older plantings to meet the quality needs of some of Melbourne’s leading greengrocers.
Program outline
| 12:30 pm | Light lunch provided on arrival
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| 1 pm | Streamed presentation plus live Q&A session
Ross Wilson and Craig Hornblow, AgFirst How is Covid-19 reshaping our orchards? |
Woori Yallock Football Club |
| 2 pm | In-orchard demonstration
Nic Finger, Fruit Help Andrew and Gavin Corbett, Old Oak Orchards |
Old Oak Orchards Enter at 321 Douthie Rd, Seville East VIC – proceed past dam to big shed |
| 3:30 pm | Concludes |
Registration is essential to ensure compliance with COVID safety regulations.
By registering in advance you will receive a reminder the day before and an hour before the event commences.
For further information
Rose Daniel, APAL Technical Manager
Contact: 03 9329 3511 or rdaniel@apal.org.au
Proudly supported by
Future Orchards® is an APAL project funded by Hort Innovation using the apple and pear levy with matched funds from the Australian Government.
