Tasmania’s island status gives it added protection against fruit fly incursions, a South Australian speaker told Fruit Growers Tasmania conference attendees.
Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia chief executive Susie Green spoke about how her state stays fruit fly free, despite being surrounded by states where fruit flies exist.
Queensland fruit fly threatens South Australia from Queensland, NSW and Victoria, while Mediterranean fruit fly from Western Australia is a further risk, Ms Green said.
“In terms of fruit flies, we’re the centre of the universe. We cop it from every direction,” she said.
South Australia’s efforts to be the buffer in the middle of the Eastern and Western states underpin Australia’s trade negotiations, she said.
Ms Green detailed South Australia’s long history of keeping fruit fly at bay.
These efforts started with legislation to stop the insect in 1897 and included risk assessment activity in the early 1900s, but there was an outbreak in 1947.
“They collected every piece of fruit within a one-mile radius of the outbreak and dumped it out to sea,” she said.
Now, the state’s producers trade domestically under fruit fly free status, producing around $1.25 billion worth of “fruit fly susceptible” horticultural crops.
“South Australia has been dealing with fruit fly incursions over a number of years,” Ms Green said.
“We are very fortunate that we have a government that is very committed to maintaining our fruit fly freedom and invests significantly each year in keeping that so.”
Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
