There are things happening now that will affect the future of the cherry industry and how cherry production businesses might operate.
Sadly it reminds me of a bad bunch of cherries where, if no action is taken to stop or slow their senescence, they quickly deteriorate.
Firstly, representing a slowly rotting cherry, is the increasing backpacker tax rate. If backpackers are going to be taxed at a higher rate, clearly fewer people will take the overseas working holiday in Australia, leaving a shortage of labour for picking and packing for all horticultural the industries that take advantage of their presence here.
Given the widespread uptake of this labour force over the past few years, where is the replacement labour force going to come from for the next harvest and packing period?
Secondly, representing a cherry with a small crack, is the changing and uncertain future of Horticulture Innovation Australia—the industry based levy–driven machine that has superseded Horticulture Australia Limited.
There are some issues still to be sorted out with the cherry levy and research and development in terms of what model might best be suited to the future of the cherry industry.
So, will the crack increase in length or will it just heal up and be viable?
Thirdly, the uncertain shelf–life of the cherry is represented by the possible changes to our federal organization (Cherry Growers Australia); the interaction of state grower bodies with the funding model for research and development; and the lack of federal government funding for universities and science–based outcomes that benefit the general public in the long term.
Grading bad (policy) cherries
Just as the newer cherry graders deal successfully with a bad bunch of cherries, I am confident that our industry and the people in it will have their say, will be strong advocates for improved change, and will lobby governments and politicians to make a positive difference.
Change for the better does not take place by people sitting back and not having a say, so get involved, be part of the outcome and own it.
For information see Tree Fruit May 2016
