Aussies can expect to enjoy high-quality stonefruit this Christmas, as supply concerns ease. Farmers are confident consumers will see an increased supply of high-quality, sweet tasting fruit over the holiday season, with decreased rainfall and warmer weather improving growing conditions. This increased confidence comes after a difficult start to the growing season, where widespread floods threatened the supply of peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots. Summerfruit Australia CEO, Trevor Ranford said he is pleased to see the situation improve in time for Christmas, and credits farmers for their resilience as this year’s extreme weather conditions created production challenges.
“Despite difficulties, growers have been working tirelessly to supply Aussies with sweet tasting fruit to enjoy over Christmas and the holiday season.” Ranford commented “Farmers believe the worst of the weather impacts are behind them, and want to reassure Australians that the situation will only continue to improve as temperatures rise as Summer sets in,”
Adrian Conti, Deputy Chair, Summerfruit Australia Ltd and stonefruit grower from Cobram, Victoria, said the industry is looking forward to continuing to supply Aussies with fresh summer fruits over the coming months.
“We’d love consumers to enjoy their fresh, sweet tasting summer fruits over the holiday season, and continue to support Aussie farmers,” Conti commented.
Conti explained that the increased supply also comes in time for Christmas exports, with farmers sending high-quality fruit to a number of countries including China and Singapore. Conti said that Summerfruit Australia’s Trade Development Manager represented Australian stonefruit growers at the ‘Food and Hotel Vietnam’ Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, expanding the reach of Summerfruit Australia Ltd and Summerfruit Export Development Alliance across the Indo Pacific.
“It’s great to see supply levels increase in Australia so that we can keep up exportation and ensure that sweet tasting fruit can be enjoyed across the world,”Ranford commented.
