Young growers building new skills and networks on orchard walks

Round three of the Future Orchards® Young Grower Immersion Program saw three participants spend a week with the orchard walks team in November. They visited several growing regions, interacting with Future Orchards technical advisors, guest speakers Sarah Gruntmeir and Mario Miranda Sazo, and other growers. Read on to find out how they found the experience.

Todd Mason, SR & SM Mason and Sons, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Age: 39

Why did you want to take part in the program?
To expand my knowledge about how other orchards operate and discover new equipment or easier ways of doing things that could help us improve. With a shift to 2D systems on our farm, I was hopeful to see this in an established form and bring some useful insights back to our own orchard.

How was your orchard walks experience?
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found it incredibly valuable. We visited several orchards and observed growing methods that displayed the direction we are heading in with our production. Listening to how others approach their production was interesting and gave me many useful ideas to take back to our farm. It was great to network with other growers and advisors along the way, too.

How did you get into the industry?
I grew up on our family apple and pear farm. After I finished high school I completed a Cert III in Horticulture through TAFE SA and commenced working on the family farm full-time. Since then I’ve learnt everything else I know on the job and by attending industry events such as Future Orchards walks.

What is your current role on the orchard?
I’m involved in the whole range of production tasks, from growing fruit to storing it. Over the last seven to eight years, I have constructed all of our permanent hail netting while still attending to the day-to-day tasks.

What do you enjoy most and least about working in horticulture?
I enjoy the opportunity to work outdoors and be directly involved in the growth and production of our orchard. It’s rewarding to see the results of your efforts throughout each season, from planting right through to harvest. I also enjoy the variety in the work and the chance to continually learn new techniques or try different approaches. What I enjoy least are the challenges that come with unpredictable weather and the uncontrollable aspects to growing like birds, bats and others pests.

What excites you about the industry?
The constant innovation and improvement – whether it’s new varieties, advanced growing techniques, or more efficient technology. The industry is always changing, with plenty of opportunities to learn and adapt, which keeps things interesting.

Any advice for other young growers?
Take every opportunity to see how others produce their crops. Each grower has their own unique approach and, by observing different methods, you can always pick up new ideas or improvements to apply in your own work. The Young Grower Immersion Program is a great way to connect with others in the industry, and exchange advice and ideas that you may not come across locally.

James Scott, Nannup Fresh Fruit, Nannup, Western Australia

Age: 22

Why did you want to take part in the program?
I wanted to see orchards and different orchard operating models around Australia. We’re all trying to find ways to increase production while keeping a close eye on our ever-increasing costs. I also thought it would also be a great chance to network and meet other growers.

How was your orchard walks experience?
I had a really great time talking to orchardists and hearing the challenges and advantages of different areas. My key learnings were:

• A stronger spray thinning strategy helps underpin block profitability.
• More streamlined, simple canopy management makes for easier overall management.
• Good data collection from all orchard areas is extremely important.
• Simple instructions for staff are a must – an area I need to improve on.

I also have a better appreciation for where I farm; I can’t imagine having to spray with a steel track tractor like the guys in the Adelaide Hills!

How did you get into the industry?
I was born into it and grew up working in the family business. In 2021–22 I completed a diploma of agriculture through RuralBiz Training, then worked for 6 months in 2024 as a farm manager for AC Hulme and Sons in East Kent, UK.

What is your current role on the orchard?
I’m a farm manager and I take care of staff management, machinery operation, data collection and manipulation, and just about anything else that is required of me.

What do you enjoy most and least about working in horticulture?
The variety day to day is great; we never seem to run out of new things to explore or try. I least enjoy hand thinning.

What excites you about the industry?
I’m excited about many things. I think the greatest opportunities we have coming are the further introduction of mechanisation and robotics into our operations, as well as further development of tree training systems.

Any advice for other young growers?
Get off the farm and go and see how other growers are doing it elsewhere. I’ve been very fortunate to be well travelled – a lot of the systems and ideas we are trying have come from other areas of the globe.

Derek Patolo Suetena, McNab Orchards, Ardmona, Victoria

Age: 26

Why did you want to take part in the program?
To expand my knowledge and perspective as a young grower and see how other farmers run their farms and how they see things differently.

How was your orchard walks experience?
I had an amazing experience. I’ve learnt so much about everything from crop loading to fruit count – I’ve actually started doing some to our blocks. It amazes me how much it helps me as a fruit grower. It almost feels like calculating what lies ahead and the outcome of the season.

How did you get into the industry?
I came to Australia from Samoa through a program called the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme but then I was introduced further into the industry by my manager.

Have you done any studies in horticulture or learnt everything on the job?
I’ve done some studying, but mainly I have learnt everything around the orchard from my manager.

What is your current role on the orchard?
I manage our staff from harvesting until pruning and thinning; I also do a lot of irrigation and spraying.

What do you enjoy most and least about working in horticulture?
I enjoy a lot of things and as I’m an open-minded type of person, I’m always keen to learn new things everyday. I like to give every opportunity a try at least; if I fail I can call it a lesson. There’s nothing really that I don’t enjoy; like I said, I give everything a chance.

What excites you about the industry?
For me, the most exciting thing about this industry is that I get to learn from all the different farmers out there. I get excited every time I hear all their different ideas that help them run their farm better. Everyone has a different perspective which motives me as a young grower.

Any advice for other young growers?
Don’t be afraid to fail and don’t let negativity get the better of you; just enjoy every moment.

More information

Interested in participating in the next intake of the Future Orchards Young Grower Immersion Program? Submit your expression of interest by completing the form on the APAL website: apal.org.au/programs/future-orchards/young-grower-immersion-program/.

This article was first published in the Summer 2025 edition of AFG.