Summerfruit NZ attended the Australian Cherry Growers Conference and Hort Connections in Adelaide in late May and early June 2026. While many of the presentations were focused on the Australian cherry industry, several themes are highly relevant to New Zealand summerfruit growers.
Climate Resilience is Driving Investment Decisions
Climate variability dominated many discussions. Australian growers are experiencing increased pressure from heat, drought, rainfall events and changing chill accumulation. Speakers suggested that future orchards will increasingly rely on high-density systems, protected cropping structures and real-time monitoring technologies to maintain consistency and manage risk. Protected covers were repeatedly identified as a valuable tool for mitigating rain, hail, frost and heat stress, although they require good management to avoid unintended impacts on fruit quality.
Several speakers emphasised that future competitiveness will depend less on maximising production and more on consistently producing high-quality fruit in challenging seasons.
Quality Remains the Biggest Competitive Advantage
A recurring message throughout the conference was that fruit quality still determines market success. Australian growers recognise that global cherry production continues to expand, particularly in Chile, but premium market returns remain available for consistently high-quality fruit. Quality was described as the cumulative result of orchard management decisions including variety selection, tree training, pruning, irrigation, harvest timing and packhouse standards. There was no perceived “silver bullet”.
Several growers and industry leaders stressed the importance of consistency for consumers. Poor eating experiences can damage repeat purchasing and industry reputation. Retail quality monitoring programmes have demonstrated measurable sales improvements when retailers and staff are trained in fruit handling and display practices.
Branding and Provenance are Becoming More Important
One of the strongest themes from both conferences was the value of branding. Australian exporters operating in China stressed that consumers increasingly buy trust, authenticity and story rather than simply fruit. The success of brands such as Rockit was frequently referenced as an example of how horticultural products can escape commodity pricing through strong branding and marketing investment.
Presenters argued that growers should avoid anonymous product where possible, invest in trademarks and develop stronger provenance stories. New Zealand was specifically identified as having an advantage due to its international environmental reputation.
Export Growth is a Priority, but Market Diversification is Critical
Australian cherry exports reached record values and export ambitions remain high. However, speakers acknowledged increasing competition and the risks associated with relying on a small number of markets. Australia is actively pursuing diversification into markets such as Vietnam, Singapore, India, Japan and South Korea.
There was considerable discussion around the need to maintain and improve market access, develop fit-for-purpose protocols and ensure new markets are supplied with excellent fruit from the outset. The Hort Innovation FASTA programme is investing heavily in market access science, export pest research and treatment feasibility work to support future trade opportunities.
Technology Adoption is Accelerating
Australian growers are actively investigating automation and precision horticulture tools. Areas attracting attention include automated thinning, robotic assistants, targeted herbicide application, AI-assisted quality assurance and enhanced traceability systems. Many speakers suggested future orchard systems may need to be redesigned to accommodate automation, particularly through more structured canopies and trellised systems.
Despite the enthusiasm for technology, presenters repeatedly noted that grower knowledge and decision-making remain the most important factors. Technology is a tool, not a substitute for good management.
Biosecurity Preparedness Needs to Extend Beyond Government Response
The most valuable Hort Connections presentation was a grower account of managing Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in a commercial operation. The presentation highlighted the practical challenges associated with diagnostics, disposal, communications and business continuity during a response. An important observation was that poorly managed responses risk discouraging future reporting by industry.
Additional discussions focused on business-level preparedness. Several speakers advocated for farm biosecurity plans, continuity planning and industry systems that allow recognised businesses to continue trading during an outbreak. Collecting surveillance data and having agreed diagnostic pathways were viewed as important tools for maintaining market confidence during responses.
In discussions with Australian industry biosecurity staff, fruit fly management remained their dominant concern. Significant effort is devoted not only to preparedness for new pests but also to containing existing fruit fly populations within affected regions.
Labour and Compliance Remain Industry Pressures
Labour availability and compliance costs were identified as enduring challenges. Australia continues to rely heavily on seasonal labour, although the industry is investigating longer-term workforce models. Compliance was estimated to cost Australian vegetable growers approximately 4% of operating costs, with retailers' additional requirements ("grey tape") contributing significantly to the burden.
Overall Impression
The Australian industry appears confident but conscious of growing competition. The strongest messages for New Zealand growers were:
- Focus relentlessly on fruit quality and consistency
- Invest in climate resilience and risk management
- Differentiate products through branding and provenance
- Continue pursuing export diversification
- Treat biosecurity preparedness as a business capability, not just an industry responsibility
- Use technology where it solves real problems, but maintain a strong focus on grower expertise and decision-making.
Perhaps the clearest takeaway was that producing premium fruit consistently remains the foundation of profitability. Most speakers agreed that future success will belong to growers who can combine quality, resilience, strong branding and market focus.