Growers

SAL’s work sits across five areas that affect your bottom line and long-term viability. This is not a passive representative body. It is an active delivery organisation, funded by grower levies and accountable to the people who pay them.

Research that reaches the orchard

SAL directs levy investment through Hort Innovation into applied research that solves real grower problems: precision orchard management, harvest maturity determination, crop load research, water use efficiency. These aren’t academic exercises. They produce practical protocols growers can use in the same season.

Current active research includes the Precision Summerfruit Orchards project (SF23000), which is developing spatial and sensor-based tools to improve consistency across orchard blocks, and the Harvest Maturity project (SF23005), which is establishing objective, variety-specific protocols for determining peak harvest timing for peaches and nectarines.

See all current programs →

Export compliance and market access

Getting fruit into protocol markets (China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam) requires annual farm and packhouse accreditation, crop monitoring training, MRL compliance, and coordination with DAFF and in-market representatives. SAL runs the export registration system on behalf of Australian summerfruit growers, delivers pre-season roadshows and training, and distributes weekly in-market intelligence reports to registered exporters and crop monitors.

SAL has led market access negotiations that opened Vietnam for peaches and nectarines in 2022, and plums in September 2024. Business cases for Japan and South Korea have been submitted. The industry’s goal is 40,000 tonnes of annual exports by 2030.

Export compliance resources →

Biosecurity representation and response

As a signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD), SAL represents the summerfruit industry in Australia’s national biosecurity governance framework. That means engaging with Plant Health Australia and DAFF on threat assessments, contributing to emergency pest response plans, and making sure growers have current information on pest risks and compliance obligations during active responses.

SAL is currently progressing activation of the Biosecurity Response Levy: the mechanism to repay the industry’s cost-sharing obligations from the Varroa mite and Exotic Fruit Fly (Torres Strait) responses.

Agrichemical access

Without targeted advocacy, growers can lose access to essential pest management products as commercial registrations expire and chemical companies don’t pursue renewal for small crops. SAL, through the levy-funded minor use program and the Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP), works to identify gaps, prioritise new registrations and minor use permits, and maintain grower access to effective, compliant chemical controls.

The MRL compliance app (MT25002) is in development and will provide real-time, country-specific MRL and withholding period data via a single platform, reducing compliance risk for exporters.

Industry voice

SAL is the recognised peak industry body for Australian summerfruit growers. That means SAL speaks to government on your behalf on labour and workforce policy, water access, trade policy, biosecurity levy settings, and market access negotiations. Where individual growers can’t get a seat at the table, SAL can.

SAL also works to keep the summerfruit industry represented effectively in government policy processes, industry forums, and with allied horticultural bodies.

Practical guides, technical references, and tools for peach, nectarine, plum, and apricot production. Resources drawn from SAL, Hort Innovation, Agriculture Victoria, and NSW DPI. Member-gated resources are marked.

Pest and Disease Management

Summerfruit Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) Manual. The definitive practical guide for Australian summerfruit orchardists implementing IPDM. Covers key pests and diseases, monitoring methods, activity periods, biosecurity, integrated weed management, and pesticide information. Available free from NSW DPI.

Access the Summerfruit IPDM Manual →

Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP): Summerfruit. The 2025 SARP report provides a comprehensive review of registered and permitted chemical control options for priority pests and diseases, and identifies gaps where new registrations or minor use permits are needed.

Download the Summerfruit SARP 2025 →

NSW Orchard Plant Protection Guide 2023–24. A detailed seasonal reference for pest and disease management in deciduous fruit orchards across NSW, including summerfruit. Covers IPM, sprayer calibration, chemical use, and regional pest pressures.

Access the NSW Orchard Plant Protection Guide →

MRL Compliance Tool (in development: MT25002). A cross-industry app providing real-time maximum residue limit (MRL) and withholding period data by country for 17 horticultural commodities including summerfruit. Reduces MRL compliance risk for growers and exporters.

Register to be notified when the MRL app launches →

Harvest Timing and Post-Harvest

Harvest Maturity Research: Peaches and Nectarines. Ongoing project (SF23005) developing objective, variety-specific protocols for determining optimal harvest timing. Interim findings and fact sheets available through Hort Innovation as they are published.

View SF23005 project outputs →

Harvest Maturity and Sea Freight Export Recommendations. A practical reference from Agriculture Victoria covering recommended harvest maturity parameters, maximum storage periods, and sea freight suitability for selected Australian summerfruit cultivars including white and yellow nectarines and white peaches.

Download the harvest maturity and export guide →

FreshIntel Shelf Life Calculator (embedded tool, member access). A predictive tool developed by NSW DPI that uses temperature data and fruit maturity parameters to estimate remaining shelf life for fresh summerfruit. Useful for export scheduling and supply chain decisions.

Access FreshIntel → 🔒 Member login required

Water and Irrigation

Water Management Strategies for Summerfruit Orchards During Drought. A practical guide covering pre-season planning, soil moisture monitoring, crop water use estimation, thinning adjustments, and tree management strategies under water-limited conditions. Published by NSW DPI.

Access the drought water management guide →

Orchard Systems and Precision Agriculture

Precision Summerfruit Orchards (SF23000). Ongoing research into sensor-based tools, spatial data, and precision management systems for summerfruit. Field results, grower case studies, and practical guides are published as they become available.

View SF23000 project outputs →

Precision Summerfruit Research: Fruitful Insights / Hort Innovation. Research into spectral sensor technology for assessing fruit quality and maturity at a block level. Aimed at reducing variability and improving the proportion of fruit that meets domestic and export market specifications.

View the Fruitful Insights research update →

If you are growing summerfruit for export, or considering it, this section covers what you need to know about accessing and maintaining compliance with Australia’s protocol export markets.

Protocol Markets

Australia currently has summerfruit export protocols with China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each market has specific requirements for farm and packhouse accreditation, pest-free area certification, and fruit treatment (cold treatment, irradiation, or fumigation depending on market and variety).

Annual registration: Applications for farm and packhouse accreditation typically open mid-June, with registrations due by mid-July for the following season. Late applications are not accepted. Registration is managed through the SAL export registration system.

Crop monitor training: All crop monitors must complete annual online training and assessment through Learnhub by the date specified each season. Only accredited crop monitors are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.

Export registration and accreditation information →

MRL Compliance

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) vary significantly between importing countries and are subject to change. A single MRL breach can result in shipment rejection and regulatory scrutiny that takes seasons to resolve. SAL distributes MRL and withholding period information to registered exporters and crop monitors each season.

The MRL App (MT25002), currently in development, will provide real-time, country-specific MRL data via a dedicated platform. Until then, the most current MRL listings are distributed by SAL directly.

Contact SAL for current MRL information →

In-Season Export Intelligence

Registered growers and exporters receive weekly and monthly market intelligence reports during the export season, covering in-market conditions, buyer demand, logistics, and pricing in China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, and Canada. These reports are produced by SAL’s Trade Development team as part of SF23003.

Register for export intelligence updates →

New Market Developments

Vietnam (plums), September 2024. Australian plums gained market access to Vietnam following two years of negotiations. Vietnam already had access for Australian peaches and nectarines from 2022. Market development activities in Vietnam are ongoing through the Hort Innovation international marketing program.

Japan and South Korea. Business cases for summerfruit market access have been prepared and submitted. SAL continues to work with DAFF toward formal negotiations.

2030 target. 40,000 tonnes of annual summerfruit exports, approximately double current levels. Achieving this requires both market access wins and sustained grower and exporter capability.

⚠️ Active industry matter: Biosecurity Response Levy. SAL has requested the Australian Government activate a Biosecurity Response Levy at 0.1 cents per kilogram from October 2026 [STAT: confirm with Jess: summerfruit only, or covers cherries too? Source draft said “stone fruit”]. This levy is required to repay the summerfruit industry’s obligations under the EPPRD, specifically the Varroa mite and Exotic Fruit Fly (Torres Strait) emergency responses. The objection period closed April 2026. For current status and further information, contact SAL directly or visit the Resources section.

View the biosecurity response levy communications →

Your Biosecurity Obligations

All summerfruit growers have biosecurity obligations under state and federal legislation. Key responsibilities:

• On-farm biosecurity practice. Maintaining records, restricting visitor access, implementing clean-down procedures for vehicles and equipment, monitoring for unusual pest or disease symptoms, and reporting any suspected exotic pest to the relevant state agriculture department or the Emergency Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881).
• Export market biosecurity. Farms and packhouses exporting to protocol markets must maintain accreditation and comply with all requirements including pest monitoring, record-keeping, and pre-season audits by DAFF. Accreditation can be revoked if requirements are not met.
• EPPRD signatory obligations. The summerfruit industry is a signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. In the event of an emergency response, growers may be subject to movement controls and the industry has cost-sharing obligations for response costs.

Key Pests and Diseases to Monitor

The following are priority pests and diseases of concern to the Australian summerfruit industry. Report any suspected exotic pest immediately to your state agriculture department.

Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly) and Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly). High-priority pests with movement controls in key growing regions. Fruit fly management is critical for both domestic market compliance and export accreditation.

Brown rot (Monilinia fructicola). The most commercially significant disease affecting Australian summerfruit, particularly in wet seasons. A pest of critical quarantine concern to China.

Oriental Fruit Moth. Affects peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots. A pest of quarantine concern to key export markets.

Exotic threats. The summerfruit industry maintains a watching brief on a range of exotic pests not currently present in Australia, including Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Any unusual symptoms should be reported immediately.

Download the Summerfruit Biosecurity Plan →

Visit Plant Health Australia for the full emergency pest response framework →

SAL membership gives growers direct access to the resources, tools, and industry connection that support a productive, profitable summerfruit operation. Below is what membership includes: not vague promises, but specific deliverables.

What SAL Members Receive

• In-season export intelligence. Weekly and monthly reports on in-market conditions, buyer demand, and logistics across China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, and Canada. Distributed directly to registered growers and exporters.
• Access to the export registration system. SAL manages the annual registration portal for protocol market accreditation. Members receive priority support and communications ahead of each season.
• MRL and compliance communications. Current MRL and withholding period data, regulatory updates, and compliance alerts distributed directly to members each season.
• Extension and field day access. Invitations to SAL-led and SAL-supported field days, grower meetings, and the annual conference. Members receive priority access and member pricing.
• Research outputs and technical guides. Practical resources produced through the levy-funded R&D program, including the Summerfruit IPDM Manual, harvest maturity protocols, and precision orchard research findings.
• FreshIntel shelf life calculator. Access to the NSW DPI predictive shelf life tool through the SAL member portal.
• Industry representation. Your operation represented in policy submissions, market access negotiations, agrichemical advocacy, and government engagement. SAL speaks on behalf of all levy-paying growers.
• Direct communication from SAL. Biosecurity alerts, regulatory updates, market access developments, and seasonal news delivered directly to members.

Membership for Growers

Grower membership is open to all growers of peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots in Australia, including levy payers. Membership tiers and pricing are set out on the Members page.

Explore membership options and pricing →

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