WA Avocado Grower Regional Forum 2026
All WA avocado growers, orchard managers and their teams are invited to attend the WA Avocado Grower Regional Forum for 2026. The technical theme for this year’s forum is ‘Yield consistency and quality’.
We will also explore export topics, including how export development will contribute to industry’s long term growth target.
This event is specifically designed to support avocado growers, and we warmly encourage all growers, their orchard managers, and teams to attend.
In response to grower feedback, and to manage numbers while ensuring growers are the majority in attendance, resellers are welcome to register up to two representatives per organisation.
Please register for the forum by Friday, 19th June. If you register but can not attend, please let us know so we can adjust catering requirements.
Agenda
Registration
Speakers
Dr David Cook (DPIRD) will share insights on improving pollination in avocado orchards to support more consistent yields. The presentation will explore strategies to keep pollinators active within orchards, with a focus on the role of flies, and provide updates on the Flies as effective pollinators for horticulture (PH24002) project, including the development of commercially reared pollinator flies.
Stuart Irvine-Brown (QDPI) together with Dario Stefanelli and Declan McCauley (DPIRD WA), will present outcomes from the Growing Robust Avocados (AV21005) project. The session will explore how orchard nutrition management influences postharvest fruit quality, with a focus on the critical role of calcium. Growers will gain practical guidance on improving fruit robustness, supported by insights from calcium application trials across three WA orchards.
Shanara Vievers (QDPI) and Declan McCauley (DPIRD WA) will present outcomes from the Serviced Supply Chains II (AM21000) project. They will highlight the variability in fruit performance across export supply chains and introduce shelf-life prediction tools to assess risk and guide improvements. Case studies will demonstrate how improved handling practices can deliver better fruit quality outcomes. This session will give growers and exporters new insights and tools to help deliver more consistent fruit quality.
Now in its third year, the Avocado Industry Benchmarking project (AV22004) delivered by RMCG, is providing growers with financial and production insights to support decision-making and track performance. Drawing on data from across the region, James Beveridge (RMCG) will present key findings from the 2024 Benchmarking Report, including comparisons of yields, sales, costs, and EBIT across growing zones, along with insights into industry trends and top-performing growers.
Flora Zhang, General Manager of Export at Avocados Australia, manages a range of export development activities for Australian avocados. She is passionate about supporting all stakeholders across the Australian avocado industry to achieve the best outcome in international markets. Flora’s presentation will explore how export development will contribute to industry’s long term growth target.
Contact
For more info contact Rachelle Johnstone
- Phone: 0423 114 972
- Email: rachelle.johnstone@dpird.wa.gov.au
When
8:00 am Start (Arrive 7:30 am) to 3:45 pm, 24/06/2026 (Date Past)Host/s
Avocado Industry Extension and Development ProjectVenue
Macedonian Community of Manjimup Hall407 Ipsen Street
Deanmill
WA 6258