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.
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.
For more information:
Anna Petrou
Avocados Australia Limited
Tel.: +61 3846 6566
Tel.: +61 0488 384 222
Email: [email protected]
www.avocado.org.au