Retail quality – Shepard

Avocado quality over time
Australian grown Shepard

The purpose of providing retail avocado quality by variety is to track trends over time, to identify improvements and to empower industry to adopt best practice management to improve avocado quality at retail collectively. This section explores:

  • acceptable fruit (<10% internal defects) by production region
  • unacceptable fruit damage by type (>10% internal defects) of Australian grown fruit
  • average fruit age at retail
  • number of 10-fruit samples collected by production region.

General notes to consider when reading these graphs:

  • fruit quality is assessed once fruit ripen to stage 5 (ripe) 
  • percentage damage is calculated by weighing the damaged and undamaged flesh from each avocado
  • fruit are considered unacceptable by consumers if more than 10% of flesh is inedible due to bruises, rots etc.

 

Figure 1. Percentage acceptable fruit (<10% internal defects) – Australian-grown Shepard (2023)

Figure 1 shows the percentage of acceptable Shepard fruit sampled (that is, fruit that meets consumer requirements of less than 10% flesh damage) each month. This is an average of all Australian-grown Shepard.

Figure 2. Acceptable fruit (<10% internal defects) by production region – average past 12 months – Shepard

Figure 2 shows the average percentage of acceptable fruit by growing region since January 2021.

Figure 3. Unacceptable fruit damage by type (>10% internal defects) of Australian-grown Shepard – average since March 2023

This graph shows the percentage of fruit sampled with more than 10% flesh damage, by each defect type. Average since February 2023.

Figure 4. Average fruit age at retail – Australian-grown Shepard, 2023

Fruit age as days from packing to purchase in-store.

Figure 5. Number of 10-fruit samples collected by production region – Past 12 months – Shepard
Production region No. samples collected
North Queensland 116
Central Queensland 15
Unknown 1
Total 132

 

 

More information

The project is delivered by Applied Horticultural Research, with communications support from Avocados Australia. Please contact Adam Goldwater for more information: adam.goldwater@ahr.com.au.

Acknowledgement

The Monitoring avocado quality in retail (AV19003) project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy, and contributions from the Australian Government.

 

Elevating Work Platform safety

Notes on inductions for Elevating Work Platforms

This is much the same as for any piece of equipment. If purchasing a new piece of plant you should ask the retailer to provide an induction on the use of the equipment when it is delivered onsite (this is a legal requirement for retailers – but is often overlooked). If you have staff who come on-board at a later point in time (eg harvest), a full induction briefing should be undertaken by a senior person (owner/farm manager) within the business. Whether “old” or “new” employees (eg pickers), the initial usage of the equipment should also be supervised by a senior person until they believe the individual is competent in safe use of plant.

Neighbours / Legal Requirements

As per above, to comply with regulations a basic induction with anyone that is to use the equipment should be undertaken. In reality, this would only take 5-10 minutes (assuming the person is already familiar with use of EWPs). They would then be responsible for safe use (including induction of any workers) on their farm. Note – while it’s critical that all guarding and mechanisms are fully functioning at all times – it may even be more important (legally) when lending equipment out like this.

You can find more information about EWPs (national and state) in the BPR Library.

Hazard checklist

Visit the Hazard Checklist page for a full list of available inspection checklists. 

• Checklist – Cherry Pickers Hazard (Word Doc)

Inspect your EWPs annually

In January 2021, Safe Work Australia released a new guide to inspecting and maintaining elevating work platforms (EWPs). Elevating work platforms need to be inspected at least annually.
EWPs are high-risk equipment that have caused nine worker fatalities in the past five years (2015-2019). An inspection, maintenance and testing program is crucial to assess their safe operation.
Employers are responsible for keeping workers safe and this includes ensuring that plant equipment is inspected and maintained.
Employers must also ensure that workers are given the necessary information, training, instruction and supervision to use elevating work platforms safely.
Download the guide here: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/guide-inspecting-and-maintaining-elevating-work-platforms.

Additional resources

In the BPR Library/WHS Resources, you will find links to various EWP documentation from national and state bodies. Click here. Additional external resources will be added to the BPR Library/WHS Resources as they become available. These resources are maintained in the Library only, to reduce the risk of outdated information being linked in multiple locations. Current resources include:

  • Elevating Work Platform Association (national) – safety & guideline documents, and a good practice guide
  • WorkSafe SA – mobile platform guidelines
  • Safework NSW – how to safely use an elevated work platform
  • WorkSafe WA – prevention of falls from heights.

Further reading

  • Elevating Work Platforms – safety first! Click here to read this article prepared for the Autumn 2021 Talking Avocados. Please refer to the most recent advice when making decisions for your operation.

 

Extra considerations

Competition for workers is intense in 2021, not just for horticulture but also across agriculture, retail and (where domestic tourism is active) the tourism sector.

You may need to consider:

  • paying above award wages
  • including additional benefits (free accommodation, wifi)
  • paying bonuses (over and above the government incentives) for those who meet productivity goals and stay for a set period of time.

Other general advice

Clean up your social media. Potential employees (and their parents) are going to be vetting you online. If you sound like a loose cannon on Twitter, you’re going to the bottom of the list.

Ask for referrals. If you have a staff member leaving, ask them if they can recommend anyone in their circle looking for work. They may not in that moment, but if they’ve had a positive experience in your business, they are more likely to point friends in your direction.

Provide referrals – don’t let a good worker leave the industry!

If you have had a particularly diligent (or even just reliable) employee who is interested in continuing in horticulture but your season is over, don’t just provide them with a referral, give them names and numbers of other avocado growers.

Avocados Australia members, we have prepared a Reference template you can use and it is available in the Member Area here.

Training

Expect to put in more up-front training, and potentially to provide this training more often as staff turnover is expected to be higher.

During COVID-19, growers in other horticultural industries have reported a much higher than normal turnover rate, as employees decide the job isn’t for them after a day or a few days.

Avocados Australia has a range of resources in the BPR’s WHS module here to set up your training materials if you haven’t done so already.

It is recommended that you also provide training in good hygiene practices, and the requirements of your COVIDsafe plan.

 

Advertising – what to include in the ad

Include in the advertisement

  • type of work/tasks
  • training provided
  • pay ($/hr or piece rate)
  • length of day (how many hours gives them an idea of takehome and allows for planning for other activities)
  • location in relation to regional attractions (eg, a hour from the famous NQ beaches)
  • COVIDsafe plan in place (find out what plan or WHS update is needed by state here)
  • Fair Farms accredited (this is not so much for some of the potential employees, but their parents who are no doubt helping to vet employers)
  • note if there are any government incentives available. You can find more about currently available incentives on the Avocados Australia public website here. Check under the national and state sections, as in some cases, your new employees can in fact apply for both the federal and state incentives.

Consider including in the advertisement

  • how many days on, how many days off
  • make note that (eg) if raining, no picking, no pay
  • is accommodation available on-farm (dorms or caravan sites), what does it cost, what services are included (for example, wifi)
    • is accommodation part of the package or an extra?
    • is a stocked fridge part of the package or an extra? (or a first stocked fridge)
    • are there cooking facilities and a fridge etc?
    • include photographs of the accommodation (a recent photograph)
  • access notes (sealed road, how many kilometres from nearest centre)
  • is there wifi available or at least mobile coverage?
  • link to your local tourism site to showcase things to do in the region
  • approximate size of the crew they’ll be working in (this lets them know they’ll have people to talk to, which is important)

Hashtags for your social media posts

If you are posting on your social media, take advantage of the hashtags being promoted by the various states.

  • Queensland – #pickqld
  • NSW – #HelpHarvestNSW
  • South Australia – #SeasonalJobsSA #GetASeasonalJobSA
  • Victoria – #bigharvest
  • Western Australia – let us know if you spot a hashtag jobseekers are searching for
  • Tasmania – let us know if you spot a hashtag jobseekers are searching for

Have a tip to add?

Email co@avocado.org.au.

 

Advertising – where to advertise

Many of you will have your own local media, backpacker hostels, Facebook groups, and notice boards that you utilise. Avocados Australia strongly recommends that you add the Australian Government-supported Harvest Trail to your advertising suite. Most of the current federal, state and territory campaigns aimed at encouraging workers into rural and regional jobs (including seasonal labour) directs these potential employees to go to the Harvest Trail.

General tips
  • Advertise early
  • Advertise extensively. Do not just rely on what’s worked before. Advertise everywhere.
  • Let your local backpackers know that your positions are open to both working holiday makers AND Australians. There have been anecdotal reports that some backpacker facilities are turning away Australians who ask to check their job boards. Make sure your local backpackers isn’t one of them!
  • Utilise word of mouth. If your harvest is starting as a neighbour is finishing, call them up beforehand and ask them to refer staff to you. (Conversely, if you have good staff finishing up, refer them to someone else in the avocado industry.)
Physical job boards
  • Backpackers or other accommodation facilities
  • Caravan parks
Online job boards

Please note: some of these are paid services, some are government services.

National
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Victoria

 

Staying safe

Staying safe in the orchard and packshed

Avocados Australia has collated a range of tips and resources on everything from WHS to transporting produce on the public section of our website.

We recommend you review this article.

COVIDsafe planning

If you do not have a health plan in place, or your state does not require one, Avocados Australia encourages you to develop a Health Management Plan for your orchard or packshed regardless.

Click on your state to find the relevant plan template, or further information. Please note, even if your state does not require a specific COVID-19 plan, you may be required to update your existing workplace health and safety plans for COVID-19. Check with your relevant state agency. The following information was current as at 5 February 2021.

COVID plan requirements – state-by-state

New South Wales – NSW DPI – NSW DPI has information specific for NSW for managing primary production workforces.

  • For the critical services (agriculture) permit, there is a need for a COVID Safety Plan, click here
  • Outside of the border requirements, SafeWork NSW advises horticulture isn’t required to have a plan but it is recommended. And if your farm has a café/brewery/similar, then a plan may be mandatory. Please check carefully. (at 11/6/2020)
  • Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.

Northern Territory – The NT plan content suggestions may be generally useful for everyone. Organisations must develop a COVID-19 management plan if they require employees to return to the NT, and be exempt from the supervised quarantine requirement. (Exemptions are not available to travellers from hotspots. Check hotspots here.)

Queensland – health directive, with link to various template – on 24 August 2021, a new health directive was issued, requiring the use of the COVID Safe Checklist and the Check In Qld App for agribusinesses that employ seasonal workers (ie, a seasonal worker business).

The requirements are mandatory from 1am on September 3, 2021. (Until then, you need to continue with registering the attendance of employers etc, and operate under your existing Health Management Plan.)

Note, the change to the use of the Checklist still requires you to have a Strategy for minimising risk, and this can be demonstrated by using the Health Management Plan OR your updated WHS plan.

A seasonal worker business is: an agribusiness that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or a commercial fisheries business that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or a labour hire firm that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or an accommodation facility that houses or is available to house seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers.

  • If your existing WHS plan has not been updated with COVID-19 in mind, you may find this guide and this template useful.
  • Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.

South Australia – A plan may not be mandatory for agriculture, but please check carefully. Having a plan may be helpful if you need to apply for border passes. Click here for information on how to create a COVID-Safe Plan.

  • Click here for South Australia’s COVID industry guidelines. (These were updated in July 2021.)
  • Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.

Tasmania workplace guidelines – COVID-19 Safety Plans were due for completion by 15 June 2020, more here.

Victoria – As of 13 September 2020, it was mandatory for all businesses statewide operating onsite to have a COVID Safe Plan (including labour hire providers). (Previously, these plans were encouraged for those in regional Victoria, not mandatory.) The exemption for businesses with fewer than five employees no longer applies. Find out more about creating a plan at Business Victoriaupdated 1/10/2020.

  • Click here to find the template for both the plan and a workplace attendee register. And click here for more on seasonal workers.
  • And, don’t forget, those using seasonal horticulture labour do still have additional obligations even though high risk COVID plans are no longer required in Victoria. Click here.
  • To find the latest Workplace Directions and the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions from the Victorian Government, click here. You will find information relevant to seasonal workers in the Industry Obligations direction.
  • Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.

Western Australia – Agricultural businesses employing working holiday makers must prepare a COVID-19 Health Management Plan, link.

  • Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.

National template

The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has also developed a template for a COVIDSafe plan. This plan includes links to resources, checklists and suggestions. If using this plan, ensure you tailor your plan steps to your specific situation.

Be aware

One continuing issue is the pushback from some community members about the presence of “outside workers” in their towns. As you go about your daily business, Avocados Australia encourages you to talk about how you are protecting your communities and your families: your health management strategies, testing regimes, and how important these workers are to horticulture.

Control measures

 

Canopy management

  • Canopy management conducted to reduce tree height and open up the canopy will also greatly assist management of SB since the pest prefers tall trees and dark shaded areas, plus shorter and more open trees will also greatly improve spray coverage.

Managing alternate hosts

Calibrate sprayer regularly

  • Set the sprayer up to apply sufficient spray and air volume to achieve even coverage of the whole tree canopy with suitably sized droplets.

Spray ‘hot spots’

  • Apply sprays to ‘hot spots’ or orchard perimeters as soon as a new ‘flight’ is detected. This will reduce the risk of numbers building up and spreading to other areas.

Biological controls

  • The egg parasitoid Anastatus is commercially available for purchase from Bioresources. For more information visit Anastatus Home (bioresources.com.au)
  • The best areas to establish populations of Anastatus are the ‘hot spots’ outside the orchard e.g. bordering native vegetation.
  • Releasing Anastatus can reduce the numbers of SB entering the orchard but will not be sufficient to control the pest, other measures will also be needed.

 

Anastatus sp. is an egg parasitoid used for spotting bug control

Anastatus is a tiny wasp that parasitises the eggs of spotting bugs

 

  • Several species of flies, spiders and lacewings are natural enemies to SB as well as butcher birds and finches – all targeting different stages of the lifecycle.
  • Management systems that promote natural enemies (beneficial insects) in the orchard help support their role in suppressing SB populations, this includes ‘farming the interow’ and careful choice of insecticides.
  • ‘Farming the interow’ involves establishing mixed species (grasses, legumes and herbs) in the interow and allowing them to grow and flower. Reduce the frequency of mowing to a minimum and mow alternate interows on a rotational basis. This will provide a better habitat for beneficial insects. The interow sward will also provide a useful source of mulch when it does need to be mowed.
  • Choosing ‘softer’ pesticides (e.g. Transform®, Trivor® and Sivanto Prime®)
  • for as long as possible from the start of the season will extend the (free) benefit you will get from beneficial insects to keep SB numbers down.
  • Try to avoid using broad spectrum insecticides such as the registered synthetic pyrethroids (Bulldock® and Cyborg®) for as long as possible into the season as they will indiscriminately kill both pests and beneficial insects.

 

Area-wide management

  • Area wide management (AMW) is the collaborative effort of a group of local growers working together to manage spotting bug incursions.
  • This may include coordinated monitoring, sharing monitoring information and spray timings, and sharing the costs of establishing, maintaining and monitoring hedges.

Chemical control

INSECTICIDE DETAILS AND REGISTRATIONS CAN CHANGE, BEFORE USING CHECK THE CURRENCY OF REGISTRATIONS AND READ THE LABEL.

The details below were current on 21 November 2022.

Rotate insecticides to minimise risk of chemical resistance developing. All these insecticides are toxic to bees and other pollinating insects, so avoid spraying during flowering.

TRADE NAME

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

HIGH VOLUME RATE RESIDUAL ACTION MODE OF ACTION NOTES WHP
Dipterex®, Lepidex®

Trichlorfon 500g/L

200mL/100L About 3 days 1B Ensure pH of spray mixture is slightly acid, less than 6. 2 days
Transform®

Sulfoxaflor 240g/L

40mL/100L About 7 days 4C Most effective on nymphs. Maximum 4 sprays per season with minimum of 21 days between applications 7 days
Trivor®

Acetamiprid 186g/L & Pyriproxyfen 124g/L

40mL/100L About 7 days 4A & 7C Maximum 2 sprays per season, with at least one spray of an alternative mode of action insecticide in between and after a minimum of 14 interval. Trivor® is not a rapid knockdown spray. 28 days
Sivanto Prime®

Flupyradifurone 200mL/L

75 to 100mL/100L Information not available 4D Rotate with other insecticides. Maximum of 2 sprays per year at least 14 days apart. Maximum of one spray at flowering. 1 day
Bulldock®

Beta-cyfluthrin 25 g/L

50mL/100L About 21 days 3A Only use as a last resort and sparingly. Maximum of 4 sprays per season with at least 21 days between applications. Frequent use will result in outbreaks of scale and mites. 7 days
Cyborg®

Beta-cyfluthrin 100 g/L & piperonyl butoxide 400g/L

6.25 to 12.5mL/100L About 21 days 3A As for Bulldock® 7 days

About spotting bugs

 

  • Adults and nymphs of both species are the major pests of avocado in the eastern states.
  • Two native species of spotting bugs (SB) occur in Australia which attack avocado:
    » Fruitspotting bug (FSB) Amblypelta nitida
    » Bananaspotting bug (BSB) Amblypelta lutescens lutescens
  • FSB occurs in the avocado growing areas of New South Wales and most of Queensland, it is currently the only species found in NSW.
  • BSB is found in Queensland (particularly in central and northern Queensland), the Northern Territory and the Ord River area of Western Australia, it is the only one of the two species found in Far North Queensland from about Mareeba northwards.

 

 

  • SB has over 100 alternate hosts including wild and cultivated plants and it readily moves from native habitat into orchards.
  • They are more prevalent in orchards adjacent to suburban gardens (especially if watered), bushland, creek lines, rainforest, and other susceptible crops.
  • SB are difficult to spot and will hide or fly away if approached.
  • Numbers are low during cool and dry weather, but warm temperatures combined with rain and high humidity result in rapid population increases.
  • Hot windy conditions often bring new waves of infestation into the orchard.
  • Four to six overlapping generations can occur from spring till autumn, but recent observations suggest that they are continuing to breed later in autumn and earlier in spring due to warmer winters.