Bellevue Orchard: Nurturing tradition and embracing change

Bellevue Orchard in Officer, Victoria, has been a cherished family business for over seven decades. In 2023, the orchard commemorates two significant milestones. Firstly, it celebrates 70 years since the Russo family acquired the orchard, symbolising a long-standing legacy. Secondly, it acknowledges the resilience of brothers Robert and Joe Russo, who, 25 years ago, transformed adversity into an opportunity by creating Summer Snow, an all-Australian, variety-specific apple juice, after a devastating hailstorm destroyed their apple crop just weeks before harvest.

Over the years, Bellevue Orchard has expanded its operations and diversified its offerings. In addition to growing apples, the orchard has cultivated a range of distinctive brands that cater to various tastes and preferences, and is renowned for its apple juice, cider and a delightful array of farm produce.

Nick Russo

Nick Russo, Chief Executive Officer at Bellevue Orchard, shared his insights with APAL into the most recent harvest, challenges, opportunities and the future of farming in Australia.

“Our crop came together quite nicely in the end,” Nick reflected on the recent season. “The volume was down and the crop was a little lighter, but we had removed part of the underperforming orchard, so it was no surprise. We were down about 20 per cent on bins, but the quality was good.”

When asked about the varieties harvested this year, Nick explained, “We primarily focus on apples sold as Pink Lady, and Granny Smith. We also have Kanzi® and Bravo®, which are our main managed varieties. Additionally, we have some Fuji® and Gala®, including an early Fuji.”

Photo provided by Bellevue Orchard

Nick admitted that the juice side of the business has faced recent challenges.

“It had a really tough and slow start to the year. Around April, we usually experience a slowdown in juice sales as people pull back heading into winter. However, this year has been exceptionally slow. We had a big rush late last year, but it declined quite significantly at the start of this year so the financial year closed fairly average.”

Photos provided by Bellevue Orchard

Birds, along with other pests, pose a significant challenge for Bellevue Orchard.

“We have a small section of Bravo, approximately 40 bins, and last year we only obtained one and a half bins due to bird damage. This year, we managed to harvest our 40 bins, but we had to spend a lot of time placing multiple zip ties between each tree to combat the incredible bird pressure. Birds even sat on the net and continued eating from the outside.”

“Netting our orchard with permanent netting poses difficulties due to the layout and small blocks, and we are uncertain about its effectiveness against birds and bats so we use drape net exclusively. However, removing and reinstalling the netting every time we work a row becomes a significant cost. As a result, we end up picking all the fruit at once to minimise the time spent on the netting machine, but this affects colour and maturity.”

Photo provided by Bellevue Orchard

In addition to pest damage, Nick spoke about concerns with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which they rely on for workers for picking, pruning and some thinning. Potential changes to the program pose uncertainties for the coming season.

As growing Melbourne suburbs encroach upon Bellevue Orchard, the Russo family have had to adapt their business.

“With the suburbs moving in quite literally over the road from us, we’ve started doing on-premises sales of fruit, as well as offering coffees, juice and pizzas. We see this as a way to supplement fruit sales and support the growth of our orchard.”

However, Nick acknowledged concerns about the impact of suburban development on their operations.

“The presence of spray carts running around early in the morning or B-doubles dropping off fruit could impact our operations and what we are allowed to do here.”

Photos provided by Bellevue Orchard

Looking to the future of farming in Australia, Nick predicts consolidation becoming more common, although states Bellevue Orchard may be too small to be part of that trend. He emphasises the importance of adopting excellent growing techniques, exploring unique varieties and venturing into agritourism and other options to remain viable.

Nick also spoke about their efforts to improve processes in the orchard, such as implementing QR codes and serial numbers for each row. This initiative aims to provide clear instructions and training to their younger staff members and foster a passion for fruit growing as a viable career option.

Expressing his concern for the future of agriculture education, Nick states, “Unlike trades like electricians or plumbers, there isn’t a clear route for individuals to pursue a career in agriculture. We need to address the high risks involved and create awareness among students.”

Photos provided by Bellevue Orchard

Bellevue Orchard’s journey is marked by continuous learning and adaptation. Nick values their experience of growing their own trees in the nursery, which allows new staff members to be involved in the entire growing process. Despite challenges like wallabies damaging the trees, this approach has been a valuable part of their team’s growth.

As Bellevue Orchard celebrates 25 years of making apple juice and 70 years since the Russo family’s acquisition, Nick’s vision for the future is guided by tradition while embracing change. By staying ahead with improved processes, exploring unique varieties and venturing into agritourism, Bellevue Orchard remains resilient in the face of challenges and secures a strong future for the next generation.

We loved hearing Nick’s story and we’d love to hear yours! If you’d like to share your recent orchard experience with APAL, get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]. Keep an eye out for more grower stories told via our 2023 Grower spotlight series.