Australians look into treatment of fire-affected fruit
According to a study currently being conducted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries with partnership from the Government of South Australia and Hort Frontiers, fire-affected fruit needs special handling and storage. This is the case, even if it wasn’t directly touched by flames.
Representatives from the state agency presented their post-fire observations to Batlow growers at the Batlow RSL Club last Tuesday. Scientists and officers with the DPI shared early results from some of their tree recovery and fruit quality studies.
According to Project Leader Dr Bruno Holzapfel, a DPI Senior Research Scientist, the purpose of the study was to help growers maximise their harvests after fires like the recent Dunns Road fire.
Early South African apple exporter looks to up overseas trade
The new Royal Gala season is starting for Maluti Fruit in a cool summer with plentiful rain, and it’s been years since rivers have run as strongly as this season, says Hein Punt, CEO of Bethlehem-based Maluti Fruit, and they’re looking forward to a good season.
Harvesting early season Royal Gala in the eastern Free State (photos supplied by Hein Punt)
Their early apples from producers in the eastern Free State and Mpumalanga hit a sweet spot in the season as carry-over apple stock declines in quality after seven months plus in controlled atmosphere and retailers PicknPay and Checkers stand ready to take in the first fresh Royal Gala apples of the season.