WITH a warmer summer expected, Australian fresh produce business, Montague, has forecast a larger stonefruit crop than last year.
The company predicts it will pack more than 6.6 million kilograms from a strong crop abundant with larger plums, peaches, and nectarines.
Montague chief innovation officer, Rowan Little, said the response from retailers had been strong in relation to the upcoming season.
"The 2022/23 summer proved to be challenging for many growers due to the excessive amount of rainfall in some regions and hail," Mr Little said.
"The wetter growing conditions resulted in a lower crop however we are working hard with our growers to prepare for a strong harvest with a larger crop."
Montague and its network of partners grow stonefruit in Stanthorpe, Queensland; Swan Hill, Cobram, Katunga and Shepparton, Victoria; and Donnybrook and Perth Hills, Western Australia.
It has more than 340,960 trees grown in these regions.
Montague senior marketing manager, Angela Bracken, said the stonefruit harvest began in late October and will run through to March 2024.
"The entire business is embracing this season with renewed enthusiasm, following a low yield crop last summer," Ms Bracken said.
"The team have been exhausting all avenues to improve bird management and water use in the orchard and to reduce waste since last summer.
"The business is sustainability-focused and part of that will include consumer education on storage and different uses for stone fruit this season. Australia has to reduce food waste."
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