Fruit fly restrictions still affecting most South Australian horticulture industries

Restrictions have been lifted in the Berri, Cooltong and Monash district, while later detections of Queensland fruit fly have extended the situation for Pike River and Renmark West residents.

They will have to wait until March 13 - depending on no further detections - to be deemed fruit-fly free.

Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke said the majority of the citrus industry was happy with the news, even with two areas still considered an outbreak zone.

"If we do not find anymore flies that will be okay for the citrus industry because we do not start before (March) anyway," he said.

"Hopefully the last two zones will be out of quarantine by the time we want to start picking for the 2022 season as to be deemed a pest-free area will make a massive impact financially for growers."

Primary industries minister David Basham said it was pleasing news for SA's horticulture industry with the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreaks in metropolitan Adelaide and Port Augusta, and three Qld fruit fly outbreak zones in the Riverland to be deemed eradicated.

He said it was "by far the largest successful fruit fly eradication campaign ever delivered in Australia".

He said the lifting of the outbreak areas in the Riverland meant many growers would be able to have the market advantage of being fruit fly-free.

"There are reduced restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables and lower costs of preparing the fruit for market," he said.

"We know fruit fly is most active in summer and we ask everyone to remain vigilant to ensure we keep SA fruit fly-free by continuing to pick fruit once ripe, collect fallen fruit, check fruit for maggots and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 if you see anything suspicious."

During the festive period, 230 vehicles were caught attempting to move 143 kilograms of fruit and vegetables into the Riverland.

Domestic trade has been re-established under area freedom arrangements for relevant regions and PIRSA, working with the federal government, aims to have export arrangements back in place soon.

Most metropolitan residents have also regained the ability to move fruit and vegetables from their properties, except in the Ridleyton area, which is due to get its freedoms returned in February.

DESPITE restrictions easing in the Riverland, stone fruit producers finalising harvest at present are still facing issues.

Summerfruit SA chair Jason Size said there was not a big market advantage yet because Renmark West - where many growers were based - remains an outbreak zone.

"Once that suspension ends - hopefully in March - growers will be a lot more relieved," he said.

"But by then the season is generally over.

"It has not been good news for us coming into the festive season with the suspension area still continuing in the Renmark West area.

"A lot of the growing region for stone fruit is still under a suspension, so there are still market restrictions that apply."

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Mr Size said once the suspension zone was lifted, there would be a reduction in cost, due to less strict market access requirements.

"Growers will have better domestic market access arrangements, which they couldn't under the current outbreak, so they will have more freedom to move product more generally," he said.

Bachra Produce owner/operator Billy Singh operates a 10-hectare orchard in Renmark West, where he grows nectarines and peaches.

He says they do not have it easy with fruit fly restrictions.

"It is hard to comply with the restrictions," he said.

"It costs money, time and causes a lot of stress. The biggest hindrance is you have to be careful with what you do.

"You can not have wasted fruit everywhere - you have to keep it under control."

Mr Singh has almost completed his harvest, but remains restricted with market access due to the outbreak declaration.

"We did not make much money in the past year because of fruit fly and also COVID-19," he said.

"This year has not been a real good year, but we expect the 2022-23 season will be much better.

"We remain optimistic for the restrictions to be lifted."

THE easing of fruit fly outbreak zones in the Riverland has come in a timely manner for the 2022 vintage but, due to remaining outbreaks, a lot of the industry remains under strict regulations.

Riverland Wine executive officer Andrew Weeks said protocols for grapegrowers were a lot easier than those for fresh fruit growers.

"Wine gapes are followed with a fermentation process that destroys a lot of problems and the chance that fruit fly are going to be transmitted is a lot less," he said.

"The growers' general consensus is the fruit fly suspension area, even though the outbreak has been lifted in Monash, has meant a lot of the vineyards still fall under the 15-kilometre radius from Renmark West.

"A lot of the vineyards in Monash and anything east of the main township in Berri is still covered by the Renmark West exclusion zone.

"It means they can still harvest fruit and move fruit, it is just subject to notification and the proper regulations of movement of fruit in that area."

Mr Weeks said those fortunate to be out of the suspension area would not have to deal with the paperwork required for movement of fruit.

"The other requirements on loading of trucks and not spilling fruit, they are the sorts of things growers need to be doing anyway," he said.

"You need to be adhering to proper transport protocols and making sure trucks are not overloaded.

"It's good to see there has been work done to eradicate it."

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