Power from adversity – CEO Report Autumn 2023
In 2022, we emerged from Covid, in-person events returned and it was great to finally be travelling across Australia once again to get a beat of what was being felt in the growing regions. Throughout these travels, APAL’s messaging was consistent; with the excess fruit in the domestic market, export had to be prioritised and poor-performing blocks needed to be considered. We were urging growers to diversify, and were strong on the belief that this was the only way to strengthen demand and command fair prices for apples and pears in the market.
Heading into the 2023 harvest, we’re facing very different circumstances. Following the adverse flooding in the eastern states in late 2022 and two significant hail events in the Goulburn Valley, the domestic supply of fruit will no doubt be impacted in 2023.
While we are confident there will be an ample supply of high-quality apples and pears in Australia this year, the reduced volumes will see us back on par with the volumes of 2020. With this, we will have a more valuable proposition that deserves to command fair, meaningful prices.
Primarily due to the 22 December hail event that left a 3km-wide path of destruction from Tatura through to Bunbartha, we will see 11.6 per cent less apples and 35.1 per cent less pears in the national Class 1 supply of pome fruit this year.*
The shorter supply this year should see growers in a position to extract a fair value for fruit this season. With a smaller crop of good quality fruit and steady consumer demand, prices for apples and pears are expected to be stronger than in 2022.
Data leading conversation
The APAL team have been on ground in the Goulburn Valley, speaking with growers and compiling data to gain a true understanding of the impacts of the recent weather events. From this, we’ve been able to lead strong conversations with influential stakeholders in both federal and local government, councils and industry suppliers to look to uncover relief for affected orchard businesses. I want to thank all growers who participated for their trust and transparency.
APAL’s data, together with the data collected by Fruit Growers Victoria (FGV), predicts that over 205,000 bins of fruit have been lost across the hail events in November and December, a compelling case for support for our industry. While these insights tell a powerful story, under these exceptional circumstances, securing financial support for these isolated events is a challenging feat. Together with FGV, APAL will continue its efforts to work to uncover some relief for those affected.
Dare to Grow – APAL Industry Forum 2023
Off the back of the turbulent start to 2023, there’s no better time than now for the industry to come together, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming APAL Awards for Excellence and APAL Industry Forum in June.
The APAL Awards for Excellence will take place on the evening of Thursday 1 June in Melbourne, recognising the outstanding contributions of those who help shape and influence our industry across all areas, from researching and growing to marketing and exporting.
This year, we have two new categories to award, Excellence in Sustainability and Environment, and Excellence in Agritourism – two sectors growing in importance and prominence as our industry continues to evolve.
Following the Awards evening, we will hold the APAL Industry Forum on Friday 2 June, bringing together speakers and presentations on consumer behaviour and shifting trends, the retail landscape and updates on key APAL initiatives in the advocacy and quality space.
Bernard Salt will return to provide an update on the evolution of macroeconomic trends post-Covid, and Chris Leptos, Independent Reviewer from the Food and Grocery Code, and Woolworths arbiter Helen McKenzie will share insights and robust discussions around the supermarkets. I’m also keen to hear from our keynote speaker, record-breaking Australian explorer James Castrission, as he shares lessons learned of persistence, endurance and triumph from his polar expedition across the Antarctic and crossing the ditch kayaking from Australia to New Zealand.
As harvest wraps up, I hope you will join us in Melbourne for these events, to connect with fellow growers, celebrate the award winners’ achievements and hear thought-provoking presentations at the Forum.
*The Australian Apple and Pear Crop Estimate 2023 referred to in this article does not take into account the Goulburn Valley hail event of 23 March 2023, the impact on production of which, at the time of going to print, is yet to be determined.
This article was first published in the Autumn 2023 edition of AFG.
