Research & Extension

Profitability at core of apple and pear initiative
The latest round of the Productivity, Irrigation, Pests and Soils (PIPS) program aims to strengthen orchard profitability and…
Australian growers produce the world’s best apples and pears year after year thanks to a combination of passion and technical expertise.
Technology gets much of the attention for how it is revolutionising orchard management, but every stage of the growing process is an opportunity to improve productivity and fruit quality, from pre-planting through to harvest management.
Australia is the 20th largest exporter in the world, exporting goods worth $243b. Agriculture is a key driver of this figure through our livestock, wheat, barley and now, through citrus and table grape exports.
Three decades ago, Australian apple and pear exports exceeded 30 per cent of marketable production. Since then, high production costs, complex export protocols and a high Australian dollar have slowed industry’s appetite for supplying fruit to overseas markets.
Knowing what’s in season and learning about how our industry operates, helps consumers enjoy apples and pears the way they were meant to be eaten: crispy, juicy and sweet.
As an industry, apples and pears are worth over $632M annually and create thousands of jobs in regional areas of the country.
Apples and pears are also increasingly being used in exciting value-add products, such as ciders, perry (pear-cider), sparkling juices, candy and toffee apples, apple jams, freeze and semi dried products, air-dried chips, cider vinegar, purees and baby foods, and even apple flour made from the abundant fibre after juicing.