Summerfruit Australia represents the biosecurity interests of summerfruit producers (including apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums) and the industry. They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:
- biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
- liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
- funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
- participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.
Industry overview
In 2015–16, stone fruit production (fresh apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums) was valued at $176 million (LVP). Nectarines and peaches comprised two thirds of national stone fruit production, followed by plums and apricots.
Production is mainly located in subtropical and temperate Australia where the industry is a major rural and regional employer. Victoria produces around 50 per cent of Australia’s stone fruit (in the order of 120,000 tonnes nationally) with the remaining production spread between NSW, Queensland, SA, WA and Tasmania.
Market access to mainland China for nectarines (in May 2016) and apricots, peaches and plums (in November 2017) has allowed an expansion of exports. During the 2016–17 export season 13,964 tonnes were exported, with 5,886 tonnes going to China and Hong Kong. Other major markets were United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia.
The stone fruit industry is covered by version 1.0 of the biosecurity plan for the summerfruit industry and the Orchard Biosecurity Manual for the Summerfruit Industry Version 1.0.
Value of production and distribution
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Annual value of stone fruit production, 2007–16

Distribution of stone fruit production by state and territory, 2015–16 (based on LVP)

Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
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Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Summerfruit Industry
Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the summerfruit industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.
The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Summerfruit Industry outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email admin@phau.com.au.
Orchard Biosecurity Manual for the Summerfruit Industry
The Orchard Biosecurity Manual for the Summerfruit Industry contains information to help producers to implement biosecurity on-farm. Manuals usually contain an overview of biosecurity, fact sheets to identify the high priority pests of a crop, tips on crop management, and how to manage people, vehicles and equipment to minimise biosecurity risks. Manuals also contain a biosecurity self-assessment list, and templates to record pest surveillance records and visitors.
More information about on-farm biosecurity for both plant and livestock producers is available from the Farm Biosecurity website.
Pests
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Exotic pests (not in Australia)
The following is a list of high priority exotic pests of summerfruit. These pests were identified during the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Summerfruit Industry in consultation with industry, government and scientists. They have been assessed as high priority pests based on their potential to enter, establish, and spread in Australia (eg environmental factors, host range, vectors) and the cost to industry of control measures.
PHA has a range of fact sheets, contingency plans and diagnostic protocols relevant to these pests. Pest risk review documents are also available for some pests. Please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email admin@phau.com.au for more information.
Endorsed National Diagnostic Protocols are available from the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network webpage.
Other pests
The following is a list of documents for other exotic and endemic pests of the summerfruit industry. Please note that this is not a complete list of pests: rather it includes pests for which documents exist in the Pest Information Document Database.
Some of the documents presented here are not tailored to the summerfruit industry and are included for information only.