This adoption of new technology officer would be in a position to provide a dedicated skill set to address industry needs, concerns and opportunities. A flexible delivery of extension services that meet grower needs would encourage the adoption of new technologies and enable growers to meet their export potential through the pome fruit growing regions of WA.
This position would see a dedicated WA based skill set based within the pome fruit growing region with a highly valued skill set. The person would be able to lead and undertake innovative means of coordinated delivery of extension services.
Project 1 – Apple disinfestation for market accessLiaise with DPIRD in WA and DAFF in QLD to obtain data for collaborative assessment. It is proposed to collect, collate and analyse available fruit fly data and other quarantine pest data and develop a package for market access negotiations.
Project 2 – Apple quality in the cold chainTo assess apple quality in the cold chain at four points to see which areas of storage affect quality.Pome growers must show their products are able to maintain quality in transport during export to other countries.
Project 3 – Developing a national systems approach for meeting biosecurity requirements to access key Asian Markets.Currently, most horticultural trade of hosts of important pests (such as fruit fly) rely on exporters demonstrating that the commodity comes from an area that is free of pests and diseases (area freedom) or applying an agreed, stringent end-point treatment. Such end-point treatments are often costly, can negatively impact quality and may often be avoidable if other risk mitigation factors were accepted by importing countries.
Project 4 – Export Competitiveness Grant (ECG) (Over 2 years)Cold chain disinfestation and quality management of Bravo™ apples for market accessWest Australian apples cannot access quarantine restricted markets such as Japan and China due to lack of treatments for medfly. Existing cold storage disinfestation research is insufficient. This project will collect, collate and analyse relevant available data and develop a program of work on disinfestation and fruit quality on existing and new varieties intended for export, using static and in-transit treatment methods.
The Western Australian pome fruit industry has been funding quality program work over recent years to deliver improved quality to consumers and to build better business capability and profitability for members. Ashmere Consultants has built on this work, and in the last two years enabled the Western Australian pome fruit industry to establish minimum maturity standards for three varieties of apples set to commence in 2017. The expected outcomes from the project are an improved program of development for the maturity standards for three apple varieties, Royal Gala, Granny Smith and Pink Lady.
The maturity data will be used as a basis for proposed legislated maturity standards to be included in the BAM Act similar to Western Australia table grapes and citrus standards. The development of maturity standards for three apple varieties will benefit industry and ensure a legislated approach to allow industry to deliver a consistent supply of high quality product to consumers.

WAGROWER Summer 18 (Maturity testing)
WAGROWER Summer 18 (Apple quality)
Maturity Testing record sheet
AMT Gala Starch pattern index chart Gala
AMT Granny Smith Starch pattern index chart Granny Smith
AMT Pink Lady Starch pattern index chart Pink Lady