The Citrus Segment

In this episode of The Citrus Segment, Kerrie Lush-Robertson sits down with Citrus SA Chair Mark Doecke for a timely update on the South Australian citrus season.Mark shares what’s currently being picked across the region—including early Satsuma mandarins and M7 navels—and why this year’s fruit quality is looking strong after a more typical Riverland summer. He also provides a detailed fruit fly update, including persistent hotspots in parts of Renmark, and outlines the steps being taken to address the issue.Mark discusses recent meetings in Griffith and Adelaide, including talks with Riverina growers and Minister Clare Scriven, and previews the upcoming season launch event on May 30 at the Adelaide Central Market.Tune in for practical insights, seasonal outlooks, and the latest from the team representing citrus growers across South Australia.

In this episode, Kerrie Robertson chats with Mark Doecke, Chair of Citrus South Australia, to discuss the latest updates on the citrus industry in South Australia as the season wraps up. Here’s what you can look forward to: Season Update: Insights into the final stages of the season, including Valencia orange sales and juice fruit trends. Juice Prices: Discover how global factors like Florida's declining production and Brazil’s citrus greening disease have impacted juice fruit prices for South Australian growers. Seasonal Conditions: Mark shares how frost, rainfall, and average temperatures have influenced crops and tree health this year. Pests and Diseases: Encouraging news about fruit fly management and updates on other pest control efforts. International Visitors: A group from Nepal toured the Riverland, learning about Australian citrus farming practices. Innovation in Pest Management: Progress updates on citrus gall wasp traps, including testing and development milestones. Media Highlights: Riverland citrus was recently featured on South Aussie with Cosi. Learn how this promotion is benefiting the industry. Festive Message: Mark reflects on a successful year and shares his best wishes for growers during the festive season and into 2025. 🌟 Don’t Miss Out!This is the final Chair Chat for 2024, so tune in to hear all the latest insights and reflections on the citrus industry. 📢 Subscribe NowIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the Citrus Segment podcast so you won’t miss any future updates. Happy holidays and best wishes for a successful 2025! 🍊

The Citrus Segment: Episode Summary Host: Kerrie (Lush) RobertsonGuest: Mark Doecke, Chair of Citrus SA In this episode of The Citrus Segment, we catch up with Mark Doecke, to discuss the current state of the citrus season in South Australia and other industry updates. Key Topics Covered: Current Citrus Season Overview: The season has seen good tonnages and high-quality fruit, leading to increased packing shed throughput. The favourable conditions from a normal spring and summer have positively impacted fruit quality. Impact of Weather Conditions: Recent rains and frosts have not significantly harmed the fruit. In fact, they have helped improve the quality and colour of the citrus. Export and Domestic Sales: The majority of the fruit is being exported, particularly to Asia, with smaller shipments to America and India. Domestic sales are steady, and high-quality exports have prevented the usual surplus in the domestic market. Juice Market Trends: Juice prices are notably high due to a global shortage, making even typically low-value juice fruit profitable this year. Upcoming Adelaide Show Preparations: The Citrus SA is gearing up for another big year at the Royal Adelaide Show, with plans to engage visitors through freshly squeezed juices, fruit displays, and educational initiatives. Promoting the Citrus Industry: Citrus SA is collaborating with "South Aussie with Cosi" to promote the industry through television and social media, while emphasizing the importance of keeping South Australia fruit fly-free. Fruit Fly Management Efforts: Significant progress has been made in controlling the fruit fly population, with certain areas being fruit fly-free for over a year. The Port Augusta facility plays a crucial role in this effort. National Water Agreement Consultation: Mark discusses the recent consultation on the National Water Initiative and its implications for water management in Australia, including the Murray-Darling Basin. Upcoming Citrus S.A. AGM: The AGM is scheduled for October 11th at 10am at the Riverland Event Centre, focusing on financial strategies following Costa Farms' decision to reclaim their levies, and featuring a trade display for growers. Closing Remarks: Don't forget to read more about these topics in the latest Citrus S.A. newsletter available on their website. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the citrus industry in our next episode.

Wondering what happens behind the scenes at Citrus SA? After each committee meeting, join chair Mark Doecke and Kerrie Robertson as they discuss a few of the issues, progress and activity of the committee over the past month.