WA STONEFRUIT
Regional grower groups share insights at the roundtable.
Summerfruit Australia
GROWER DAY 2025
Summerfruit Australia hosted growers and industry members from across the country at the inaugural Summerfruit Grower Day, held in Echuca on June 16. A day designed for growers to connect with each other and hear from key industry players about what is happening in industry.
Words Jess Byrne, Industry Development Manager, Summerfruit Australia Limited
THE team from Summerfruit Australia took the opportunity to present our new strategy to industry: ‘to do what growers can’t’. This will stand on three key pillars of grower focused, smart investments and market growth. We hope this will give us as your peak industry body structure and purpose to deliver what you need.
This was followed by a regional group round table discussion, where we heard from members of almost all key regional grower groups. Anthony Caccetta, from WA farm direct spoke on behalf of Western Australia growers. It was a productive conversation where everyone agreed, that for true success and growth in this industry, we must all work together between both regions and states. The concept of sharing our resources to achieve more was a common theme throughout the day.
Overall, it was a great day which lead to many great conversations and connections for growers.
Other speakers included Jane Siebum from Freshcare, Loiuse Pavihi from Hort Innovation as well as an interactive survey for growers from Catherine Norwood and Lauren McKinnon from Coretext.
Summerfruit Australia AGM
We also held our AGM on June 16. As a part of this elections were held for four of the board positions. Three were re-elected; Dean Morpeth (VIC), Frank Frappa (VIC) and Scott Dunk (NSW) and one new board member was voted in Rowan Little (VIC).
We would like to thank the outgoing board member, Scott Coupland (NSW), for his work and dedication on the board over the last two years. Tim Grieger (SA), Tony Dugdell (QLD) and Anthony Caccetta (WA) still have one year remaining in their term. Dean and Frank were renominated as chair and deputy chair respectively.
Upcoming Field Days
Stay tuned as Summerfruit Australia is doing a series of workshops across VIC, SA and WA.
Focussed around resilience both on and off the farm, three events will be held in Renmark, Swanhill and Tatura. Save the dates for the upcoming events to be held in WA hosted by Summerfruit Australia, AgVic and WA Stone fruit:
• 20 October — Donnybrook
• 21 October — Perth Hills
Demonstration of the Rubens sensor and DA meter to identify optimal harvest time for stone fruit.
PHOTOGRAPHY Coretext