Central Queensland Shepard maturity starts strong

Above, graph showing Shepard dry matter levels from fruit sampled during February and the first two weeks of March 2025.

The AV22011 wholesale maturity monitoring program is continuing, with 28 samples of North Queensland Shepard collected in February and the first week of March. Five North Queensland Shepard samples were below the 21% dry matter standard one sample as low as 16% DM. In the first two weeks of March, 5 sets of Central Queensland Shepard were sampled, with all samples exceeding the 21% minimum dry matter standard (see image).

Well done to growers Costa (East Ridge), DJ & KJ Booth, Kureen Farming, Nashy Produce, Rock Ridge Farming, Simpson Farms and Sunfresh Marketing whose fruit was sampled and exceeded the minimum maturity standard since the last Guacamole update.

To ensure consumers have the best eating experience, ensure that fruit you harvest meets the minimum dry matter standards of 21% for Shepard and 23% for Hass. Continue to monitor your dry matter levels as your harvest progresses. More information on dry matter testing is available HERE.\

This article appears as part of the 14 March 2025 issue of the enewsletter, Guacamole.

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