South Australian cherry growers suffered their worst harvest in 50 years due to pre-Christmas storms, losing up to 70 per cent of their crop. Fruit Producers SA managing director Grant Piggott explained that three storms have hit cherry producing areas, with the most recent one hitting when the cherries were ripe, causing significant losses.
The Adelaide Hills experienced double the average December rainfall in just five days, making it the worst situation in 50 years according to long-time industry insiders. Farm staff had to remove hundreds of tonnes of storm-damaged cherries, causing a major crisis in the industry.
In the days leading up to Christmas, cherry prices reached $50 per kilo due to the shortage caused by the storms. However, according to Piggott, the situation 'improved' after the storms thanks to new sorting methods. Fruit Producers SA has invested in grading equipment that uses a camera to select high quality cherries, increasing the quantity of fruit on the market and reducing waste.
Despite this, some growers, such as Fiona Hall of New South Wales, had to 'abandon' entire crops because of the damage they suffered. Rains at the wrong time filled the cherries with water, causing the skin to split and making the crop unfit for consumption.
However, there is one positive note: the cherry harvest in Tasmania went well, with abundant quantities of high quality fruit compared to the previous year. This is a relief for the industry, offering an alternative supply at a time when the rest of the country is facing serious problems due to storms and rains.
Read the full article: The Guardian
01 Aug 2023
The purpose of the study conducted by researchers at the Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute was to examine the impact of different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on the rooting process of softwood cuttings from potential rootstock candidates
05 Oct 2023
In Prunus species, it forms complexes with sorbitol and fructose, which allow it to move through the phloem. During the initial growth phase, fruits exposed to boron exhibited a lower presence of heat shock proteins.
05 Jul 2024
Protecting intellectual property is key to maintaining competitiveness and sustainable growth. Registering brands and packaging in key markets such as China not only protects intangible assets, but also enhances product reputation and quality.
05 Jul 2024
The project was initiated to develop prevention and early detection approaches that can be combined with integrated pest management approaches against these new fruit fly species, particularly for out-of-season fruit production.
