The publications are:

• Australian Apple Production – an export resource document;
• Australian Pome Fruit – hierarchy of preferred post-harvest treatments for Australian pome fruit exports.

Australian Apple Production – an export resource document

While there are wide variations in types of orchard businesses, cold storage facilities and packing sheds across Australia and various control measures practiced on Australian orchards, the Australian Apple Production – an export resource document seeks to emphasise and document the standard operating practices employed in successful and progressive businesses that will be sustainable into the future and will be candidates for exporting apples to new markets.

The aims of this document are to:

• Serve as a resource for the Australian apple industry and Australian Government agencies (particularly the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) involved in negotiating protocols for apples to be exported from Australia to China, Taiwan and Vietnam;
• Outline how the Australian apple industry is structured and how orchards operate, particularly with regard to on-farm practices and procedures that may affect pest and disease management;
• Document the systems and procedures already in place that regulate and support the production of high quality fruit with robust phytosanitary profiles;
• Identify the key insect pests and diseases of apples that would be of potential interest to the import control agencies in China, Taiwan and Vietnam;
• Provide details of the characteristics, life cycles and importance of key pests and diseases in Australian orchards and how they are monitored and controlled in Australian apple orchards.

Australian Pome Fruit – hierarchy of preferred post-harvest treatments for Australian pome fruit exports

The second document, Australian Pome Fruit – hierarchy of preferred postharvest treatments for Australian pome fruit exports provides detailed information pertaining to a range of post-harvest treatments. Australian growers need to capitalise on any advantage they have and this includes strategies that:

• Exploit Australia’s proximity advantage by limiting treatment times and getting fruit to market as quickly as possible;
• Ensure treatment of fruit for shipping does not add costs that make Australian fruit uncompetitive in the global market;
• Ensure treatment options do not adversely affect the quality of Australian fruit.

To get copies of these documents

There are some sensitivities around the content of the material and the intended audience is for growers and exporters only.

Those who would like to obtain copies of these reports, please contact Olivia Tait or 03 9999 2702.

Source: APAL