Australian Stonefruit Grower Magazine Issue 2 August 2016 | Page 10

President's Report

The meeting was also an excellent opportunity to walk

market access to China – we recognise that moving fruit out

the markets and talk to the agents. Partly to get their

of the domestic market benefits all growers. However, the

perspective on the season just gone, but also to check out

corresponding entry of Chinese nectarines into Australia

the quality of incoming USA stonefruit.

will undoubtedly create extra challenges for low chill

It seems that the USA is now really starting to refine their
supply chain, and quality is more consistent. While the fruit
seems to me to lack flavour by the time it reaches us on the

producers. It now seems likely that fruit will be arriving
from China in September, just as our season starts.
In an increasingly competitive market, quality is

mid-north coast of NSW, this may be due to the long travel

essential. Managing brown rot, not picking immature fruit,

time between here and California.

and targeted promotion are all ways that we can ensure that
Australian stonefruit stays in the shopping basket from the

Challenge from China

time we start picking in September, right up until the end of

The potential overlap between the end of USA season

March.

and the start of our local production is now even more
under pressure given the potential for Chinese imports.
The low chill industry has always supported efforts to gain

– Mark Napper

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Australian Stonefruit Grower | august 2016

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