With cherry blossom soon to start popping, it is time to identify issues that have not yet been addressed and to act on them.
And as soon as fruit set is clear, assess the crop potential and ensure that you order enough supplies of cartons, nutrient and other sprays etc.
Prepare for shortages: shipping containers & air freight
Shipping containers are in short supply world wide.
The effect of the shortage was highlighted recently when a ship loaded with 500 house frames destined for Melbourne was unloaded in a foreign port because the shipping company was offered a premium to use the shipping containers in a different country.
This would suggest that imports to Australia may not arrive in a timely fashion—so think ahead and secure any required imported items now, before the anticipated shortages.
Even though air travel has been reduced (and is now almost nonexistent), air freight of cherries and other horticultural produce has been supported by Federal government initiatives.
Labour & travel issues
Our horticultural industries are experienced in managing harvest and packing labour, managing the Covid-19 compliance issues, and having to deal with many non-core matters; often at short notice.
It is imperative that horticultural workers are seen as essential and allowed to travel interstate for work.
Travel has been an enormous problem for businesses that operate across state borders. Sudden and unexpected border closures have been frustrating and the financial costs are a huge burden.
Vaccinations
SPC is a major food processor. It recently made the call for mandatory vaccination of its workers (and should be applauded for it).
It would cause great concern if a worker contracted Covid-19 at a cherry picking or packing operation which then resulted in SPC having to shut down for a deep clean and have its workers isolate for two weeks.
All the more reason for owners of horticultural businesses and their staff to be vaccinated, and to encourage and support vaccination of their workers.
See this article in Tree Fruit August 2021
