Informed, aware and confident to innovate

Industry communications aim to raise awareness of innovation and contribute to industry take-up and transformation.

APAL delivers the apple and pear levy-funded industry communications program, connecting industry with the latest innovation, best practice and knowledge needed to grow, store and market higher quality fruit, more sustainably.

Communication, alongside extension, is a vital part of the innovation process, linking innovators to adopters, transferring knowledge and working to make best practice, widespread practice, for the benefit of the whole industry.

The Apple and pear industry communications program (AP21000) aims to contribute to the delivery of the transformational outcomes set out in the Apple and Pear Strategic Investment Plan 2022–26 through the delivery of trusted and relevant information on which sound management decisions can be made. It runs until 31 March 2027.

The program provides a conduit through which researchers working on levy-funded projects in important areas – ranging from improving fruit quality, soil health and input efficiency to pollination, pest and disease management, orchard systems and export market access – can share outcomes back to industry, with an emphasis on practical ways to apply learnings.

By creating awareness, and stimulating interest and inquiry through innovation updates, best-practice case studies and consumer insights, the communications program works to build the confidence to take up new and better ways of growing fruit, achieving input or labour efficiencies, or storing fruit to ensure it reaches the customer at its very best.

In addition, the program provides for the sharing of consumer insights, levy-funded marketing updates, new technology and international research updates.

APAL delivers the industry communications program alongside communication of APAL’s own industry services – including the flagship industry extension program Future Orchards® – advocacy, strategic insights, news and events. It has done so under a range of agreements since its inauguration in 2002, using its knowledge and networks to add insight, context and ensure relevance.

Read all about it!

Information from both the industry and APAL communications programs is freely available via the following channels:

• The quarterly AFG magazine, allowing for longer, more detailed articles, including research updates within the Raising the Bar section, trial reports and grower case studies of best practice.
• The weekly digital newsletter Industry Juice, containing shorter project updates, news, events and links to videos and seasonal resources.
• Social media channels, including YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
• APAL’s website.

Your program, your priorities

To make sure your industry communications program delivers the information you need in your business, APAL is constantly engaging with industry, talking to key stakeholders, advisors, state bodies, researchers and as many industry members as we can, whether running a small, family business or part of a large, integrated growing, packing and marketing operation.

Additionally, each year we run a short survey asking what areas of information you want us to prioritise, whether the content is useful and relevant, what your key challenges are and how we can help you address them, and any tips on best practice in action we should be sharing.

Industry feedback is vital to keeping the program relevant.

APAL’s communications team is led by Head of Communications, Cassie Whelan and communications are delivered by Program Manager – Publications, Alison Barber, Senior Communications Specialist, Harriet Empey, Digital Communications & Social Media Manager, Nick Gibbons, and Events & Engagement Manager, Marija Yoannidis.

Further information

For more information or to provide feedback, email Alison Barber at [email protected].

To subscribe or follow:

• AFG magazine – email [email protected].
• Industry Juice – click https://apal.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5b5d01202774925ea7bff458e&id=c1602a1322
• Social media – follow APAL on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

Acknowledgement

The Apple and pear industry communications program (AP21000) runs from April 2022 to 31 March 2027. It is funded by Hort Innovation, using the apple and pear research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government and is delivered by APAL alongside APAL’s own industry communications.

This article was first published in the Autumn 2026 edition of AFG.