Avocado experts will be coming to Childers to present the Central Queensland Avocado Regional Forum on Thursday 18 July at the Isis Club.
A range of avocado experts will be speaking on the day and the technical theme for the forum is “Pest and disease”. All avocado industry members interested in avocado production are invited to attend and registration is essential.
The Central QLD Regional Forum is one of six regional forums that are run around the country as part of a greater project that is being delivered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) concerned with avocado industry development and extension (AV23010 Avocado industry development and extension project). This Hort Innovation funded project, partly funded by avocado levies, is responsible for delivering a range of events and resources to promote best management practices. The ultimate goal of the extension program is to enhance the Australian avocado industry’s profitability, preparedness and competitiveness.
The regional forum events are already funded by avocado levies so are free and have been developed in consultation with avocado growers by the extension project’s regional leads. This is to ensure the content will be relevant and specifically suited to the needs of growers and their regions. There are many other events and activities planned as part of this project over the next five years.
Central QLD is one of eight avocado growing regions operating in Australia. Avocado growers in the Central QLD region mainly grow Hass and Shepard varieties of avocado and they harvest their fruit from March to end of August. According to Avocados Australia’s “Facts At A Glance” Report for the period 2022/23 the Central QLD growing region produced around 27,359 tonnes of avocados, that’s 24% of total Australian production.[1]
The Central QLD Forum will provide a chance to give avocado growers and packers an update about the industry. Presentations will cover topics such as the Avocado industry extension project, an update on fruit quality, an overview on anthracnose control and management, best practice spray management, best practice pest management, and an overview of the Industry Benchmarking project. Speakers presenting on the day include Bridie Carr (DAF), John Tyas (Avocados Australia CEO), Anne Larard (Avocados Australia), Dr Liz Dann (Hort Health), John Agnew (DAF), Eddy Dunn (Total Grower Services), Dalton Baker (UQ), and Lauren Jones (RMCG).
Growers and speakers will also take part in panel and round robin sessions during the day. The event also includes an orchard walk at Simpson Farms.
John Tyas, CEO of Avocados Australia, will be presenting the industry update at the forum.
“The Central Queensland Regional Forum is an excellent chance for avocado growers and packers in the region to hear about industry-wide activities and to hear from experts about best practice,” Mr Tyas said.
Avocado industry members interested in attending the Central QLD Regional Forum should register online for free at https://www.trybooking.com/CPUGL
The Avocado industry development and extension project (AV23010) has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy, co-investment from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Western Australian Government Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
ENDS
[1] Avocados Australia Facts At A Glance 2022-23, https://avocado.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2022-23_AAL-Facts-at-a-glance.pdf , accessed 13 March 2024.
Key Facts:
Avocados Australia and avocado experts will be coming to Childers to present the Central Queensland Avocado Regional Forum on Thursday 18 July at the Isis Club.
About us:
About Avocados Australia – www.avocado.org.au
Avocados Australia (AAL) is the representative industry body for the Australian avocado industry. We provide a range of services to our members and the broader industry to foster growth and development. Avocados Australia is a not-for-profit member-based organisation and our members include avocado growers, associated businesses and industry people. Avocados Australia seeks to work with all parts of the chain, from production through to the consumer. By working together, we seek to continually improve the ability of growers to provide a healthy, profitable and safe product for all consumers.
Contact details:
For more information contact: Anna Petrou, Communications Manager, Avocados Australia Limited on (07) 3846 6566 or 0488 384 222 or co@avocado.org.au.
