WA Apple Variety and Innovation Conference draws international interest | PHOTOS

Both Australian and international growers and packers attended the three-day conference which was an initiative of WA Farm Direct, Fruit West, Pomewest and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

The conference started the Crown Perth Astral Ballroom with guest speaker, DPIRD director general Heather Brayford welcoming participants and highlighting the successes in the apple breeding program.

Key speaker, economist Bernard Salt gave his view of current global market trends for premium and luxury brands particularly after the impact of the pandemic.

The conference was based in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, with at RAC Karri Valley Resort.

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Apple orchards were visited throughout Donnybrook, Kirup and Manjimup with guests travelling by coach.

Wednesday and Thursday's program included apple orchard visits, a DPIRD Australian Apple Breeding Nursery tour and new apple varietal tastings at DPIRD.

In addition to the orchard visits there was new technology showcased to assist pome growers.

This included Croptracker, a program able to scan a bin of fruit in seconds and provide a size and colour profile directly onto a handheld device.

Another piece of technology was Aero Vines which provides a scan of the tree canopy to highlight density of fruit set and flowering with Source Certain providing details on the provenance traceability on premium branded fruit.

With technology also came trials and growers were provided information for Alternaria trials which were undertaken on Pink Lady apples in Manjimup.

Fruit West also had the opportunity to articulate to Australian growers the international plan for ANABP 01 being sold as Soluna with international commercialisation partner TopStar.

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