As spring hits, apple orchards in WA are bustling with activity as buds swell. Preparations for the 2027 harvest are underway, with data measurement playing a crucial role in crop planning.

Words Nardia Stacy, Executive Manager, Pomewest

CURRENTLY, winter chill portions are tracking in the top 10% for most years, with 70% of the average chill needed to break dormancy reached. However, there are concerns about below-average rainfall in pome-growing regions, as July saw only one-third of expected precipitation. Late rainfall in August and September may alleviate this deficit.

In July, others gathered for the APAL Future Orchard walk in Donnybrook on an unusually dry, sunny day. The walk, enhanced by an informative discussion and social interaction, focused on effective thinning strategies for the upcoming season. It was a successful event, with growers expressing ongoing optimism about the state of the orcharding business. Thank you to the hosts, Giuseppe Patane of Redmoon Orchards and Sam Licciardello of Orchard 1Sixty.

Also in July, the Pomewest team travelled to Melbourne for the APAL Awards of Excellence presentation and Industry Forum. I felt incredibly honoured to be nominated by Pomewest Chair Jason Jarvis, and even more so to win an award. I would like to congratulate all the deserving winners recognised at the ceremony held at Morris House on Sunday, July 26. Additionally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support and kind wishes I have received from colleagues and growers.

The APAL team deserves special commendation for hosting an industry forum the next day on Monday 27 with a program that was both enlightening and entertaining.

It was also wonderful to see the Fruit West and WA Farm team so well represented at the event, supporting General Manager Elliot Jones, who provided background and updates on the Bravo® and Soluna™ branded apples.

Lynda Pallone, Marketing Manager of Hort Innovation, introduced Appy the happy apple as the new mascot for Australian Apples. Appy aims to promote the joy of choosing fresh apples and tackle unhealthy snack cravings. Stay tuned for social videos on our channels!

In early September, we hosted the PIPS 4 Profit and NOS roadshow in conjunction with the APAL/Pomewest-sponsored Annual Grower Dinners. This event highlighted the work of the Pomewest and DPIRD project teams, especially the PIPS4Profit and NOS programs, and provided updates on progress towards our program goals. It also served as useful extension information session for growers.

We saw strong attendance across all three regions, enabling growers to network and engage with leading research experts evaluating both programs nationwide. We extend our gratitude to Jeremy Griffith, General Manager of APAL, for partnering with Pomewest to host three grower dinners across our production regions; to Jason Hingston of Hort Innovation; and to the DPIRD presenters and all the program researchers who travelled to WA to participate.

I travelled to Beijing in early September to represent apple growers at a market-access celebration hosted by the Australian Ambassador. It was an honour to be invited by APAL to represent the Australian and WA industry.

I look forward to sharing my observations and images in the next edition. It’s exciting to see the industry embracing this export opportunity and achieving strategic goals for resilience and growth.