Focus on quality and quantity

SUNBEAM FOODS & ANGAS PARK

In another challenging dried vine fruit season, with wet weather conditions similar to 2022, volumes are well down on the previous seasons.

The Sunbeam intake is down 40 per cent on early expectations as the ravages of downy mildew and the delayed maturity have impacted fruit quantity and fruit weight.

Harvest was again impacted by wet and cold weather that saw harvesters still operating well past the desirable end date.

Fruit quality has also been impacted as there was very little light coloured fruit delivered, which diminished the opportunities in some of the export markets and has our export marketing team juggling fruit quality and quantity with market expectations.

The domestic market has tightened on the back of the squeezed economic circumstances, where consumers are being very cautious with their spending.

It is now time to turn the focus to the 2024 crop and the importance to get the vines off to a good start.

The pressure from downy mildew may still play a part in the coming season, so a review of spray programs and equipment before the spraying season is imperative.

Reviewing the frequency and timing of preventative and systemic sprays is always important and more so when the threat and possibility of disease..

Online spray diary

This past season, we launched the online spray diary to replace the hard copy format that is outdated. The online diary gives the grower and Sunbeam up to date information on the acceptable and registered chemicals particular to dried vine fruit. The list of chemicals is constantly changing and the only way to know the correct chemicals and rates are used is to plan your sprays before application. Additional to accessing the latest most comprehensive information, the online diary builds up a handy history of previous spray programs that can be used as a planning tool for future growing seasons.

As everyone is aware, the annual spray diary is a mandatory record and while the online version is not yet compulsory, we are certainly moving that way.

We will be holding several group and one-on-one training sessions to allow growers to be comfortable and confident with its use.

Field officer Alan Lister retires

At the end of June 2023, Alan Lister retired from his position of field officer with the Sunbeam business after 20 years of service.

Alan played an integral role with our grower base to improve yields, promote high yielding varieties, improving fruit quality and raising the awareness of chemical use and residues.

Everyone at Sunbeam thanks Alan for his service and wishes him and his family all the best in his retirement.

Prunes

As prune sales are showing improved long-term sales, Angas Park has an ongoing requirement for additional prune volume.

To address this forecast shortage the company has initiated a prune new plantings incentive to encourage existing and potential new entrants to expand the prune production. Interested parties that would like to explore the opportunities and available incentives can contact David Swain – supply manager on the number listed below.

Dried tree fruit

The chill hours accumulation started behind the average but are gradually increasing, with hopefully a good finish to winter and early spring to produce a good crop for later this year.

Our redevelopment of the Pike River Orchard enters the second stage with the last of the vacant land and selected older trees being removed and replanted with the new varieties. Each season as more and more of these new style dried apricots come on stream the more exciting the prospects are.v

Enquiries:

Grower Services | 03 50514 400

Supply Manager - Dried Fruit

David Swain | 0407 834 044

Field Officer - Dried Vine Fruit

Gary Simpson | 0429 960 234

Dried Tree Fruits Operations Manager – Loxton

Luke Fitzsimmons | 0431 894 515