Fruit Rights Australia Inc. (FRA) was formed in 2014 to help educate Australian fruit growers about the advantages and obligations associated with proprietary fruit varieties.
FRA would like to congratulate Steve and Ross Mammone, of Mammone Orchards, Woodwood, Victoria, for successfully completing FRA's first field audit.
The Mammone field audit was based on on-the-ground counts of tree numbers, in the various blocks of their orchard and comparison of these counts with data previously supplied in a desk audit of the Mammone plantings.
"We are pleased to have been the first grower to successfully complete a field audit," said Steve Mammone.
"Our position on proprietary varieties has changed over the years.
"We want the best varieties, at the right times of the year, and are prepared to pay for them".
Desk audits
FRA has also completed a number of desk audits with leading growers in all Australian production regions.
The desk audits are based on a declaration from the grower covering the varieties they grow and the number of trees of each.
This data is matched with the records held by the nursery or rights holder.
Rocky Varapodio, a leading grower from Ardmona, said it only took a couple of hours to assemble the data required. After that, FRA did the rest.
FRA's desk audit is designed to maintain the confidentiality of the data provided.
"Our desk audit process ensures that information about the grower's varieties/trees from one FRA member is not seen or accessed by any other FRA Member," said Russell Soderlund, FRA's Executive Officer.
"Growers who have been audited have been very positive about the audits and the role of FRA.
"Growers who pay their royalties don't want to see others free riding via illegal propagation of proprietary trees or other means."
Ian McAlister of SunFruit Orchards, a leading apricot grower at Lake Boga said, "I have to pay royalties for the varieties I grow."
"I understand why and am happy to pay in exchange for access to the best varieties.
"But I don't like the idea of other growers using the same varieties and getting away without paying anything."
Ian added that with orchard acquisitions, tree removals and tree deaths, records can get out of date.
"It was reassuring to see that our records matched those of the various nurseries we deal with."
Free desk audits
FRA aims to complete more, free, desk audits over the next few months.
Audits can be arranged by contacting the Executive Officer.
For contact details see Tree Fruit April 2015
