August Newsletter.
ICA changes to protect against fruit fly
The conditions which growers must meet to send their produce to South Australia’s Riverland Pest Free Area (PFA) using Interstate Certification Assurance, or ICA have changed. Growers and distributors of fruit fly host produce can now apply only specific approved treatments to their produce before it is sent. Pre-harvest treatments and post-harvest inspections will no longer be recognised as an accepted treatment for consignments going directly into the Riverland or via Adelaide.
Growers must now use one of the following approved treatments to move consignments of fruit directly to the Riverland or via Adelaide:
Area Freedom for fruit flies / secure transportation (Condition 9)
Hard green or similar condition for fruit fly (Condition 10).**
Disinfestation by Cold Storage (Condition 11)
Disinfestation using Dimethoate – Queensland fruit fly (Condition 12)
Wine Grapes Secure Transportation – Queensland fruit fly / Mediterranean fruit fly (Condition 12E)
Disinfestation by Methyl Bromide fumigation (Condition 13)
Disinfestation by Irradiation (Condition 14).
**Note: that the Hard green or similar condition cannot be applied to the following fruits entering the SA Riverland:
tomatoes
passionfruit
pawpaw
achachairu.
These fruits must meet one of the alterative conditions listed above.
In response to the changes in conditions for produce entering the Riverland PFA, amendments have been made to:
CA01 Import Verification Compliance Agreement (“IVCA”)
ICA17 Re-consigning certified material
ICA57 Re-packing of certified Fruit Fly and Melon Thrip Host material
Riverland retailers will still be able to receive fruit and vegetables from growers and distributors who have applied agreed treatments.
'Bring a receipt' Riverland rule - the law has changed
In step with these ICA changes, domestic travellers can no longer use a receipt showing proof of purchase in SA to bring into the Riverland any fruit and vegetables that can be a host for fruit fly.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the ongoing pressure from fruit fly on the borders of the Riverland and larvae found in interstate fruit sold in shops has required implementation of tougher protections.
“Larvae detections in interstate fruit purchased at Adelaide supermarkets this year have proven the inspection regimes in eastern states are not robust enough to fully protect the internationally- recognised Riverland Pest Free Area,” Minister Basham said.
“There is too much interstate fruit entering the Adelaide market and it is impossible to track properly treated fruit once it leaves the supermarket.
“We have changed the law from travellers being able to show a South Australian receipt to bring in fruit and vegetables that are a fruit fly risk, to a compete ban. This is necessary to protect the internationally recognised Riverland Pest Free Area.
For more information about the changes, visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au
Citrus season launches with Citrus Selfie campaign
Pick a Local, Pick SA! kicked off the Citrus Selfie campaign last week – you might have seen the feature on page three of The Advertiser. The campaign has been created to raise awareness of the SA grown citrus season. Consumers are encouraged to take a selfie of themselves sporting an orange citrus smile and loading it to their social media channel using #CitrusSelfie and tagging @PickALocalPickSA
The campaign will run until August 27. Judges will pick their favourite photo with the winners receiving a month's supply of SA grown oranges. From pics with kids and pics with pet dogs the judges are expecting some creative entries.
Campaign manager, Penny Reidy, spoke to ABC Riverland about the program last week and the Pick a Local, Pick SA! team are preparing gifting packs to go to Adelaide media and social influencers encouraging them to get behind the campaign.
Details: www.pickalocalpicksa.com.au/2021-citrus-selfie
Survey results – priorities
Many thanks to those who took part in our recent survey, identifying and prioritising the areas of concern to the citrus industry in South Australia.
The survey revealed the issues of strongest importance to growers were fruit fly prevention and support for the F/F coordinator Brett Kennedy, Citrus Gall Wasp control, continuing to work with government on labour shortages and lobbying on behalf of growers for more affordable and relevant HARPS/Freshcare programs.
Island fly control and supporting the SA Produce Markets on the launch of the domestic citrus season proved to also be of importance to the industry.
The survey showed of workshops such as spray technology, irrigation, varietal field trips, information days, interstate study tours were somewhat important to the majority of respondent. Meanwhile traceability programs and assistance and training to meet farm safety requirements and compliance did not rank as highly on the priority list of those who responded.
Further comments are welcomed by emailing contact@citrussa.com.au
Call for Citrus SA committee members
If you’d like to have an input into your citrus industry, why not join the committee? We have a couple of positions which will become available later in the year. Please email us at contact@citrussa.com.au or get in touch with one of the current members to find out more.
AGM – save the date
The second Annual General Meeting of Citrus SA Inc. will be held on Friday, October 15 at the Riverland Events Centre. More details will be provided closer to the date.
Production tips
Pruning: It is a good time to begin your annual pruning program, especially before flowering begins. Those who prune generally see a vast improvement in class one fruit pack outs.
Fertilizing and Fertigation: Soil temperatures will soon start to warm up, so start thinking about your fertilizer program to cover the spring flush. Those on drip irrigation or micro jets should also begin fertiliser programs. Foliar applications can be applied in late August to ensure a healthy spring flush.
Weed Control: Once fruit has been harvested it is important to control weeds to reduce the competition for water and nutrients, especially during the spring flush period.