December Chair Chat with Mark Doecke

About this episode

Mark Doecke discusses recent updates and challenges in the citrus industry, including fruit fly management and juice market prices.

In our final Chair Chat for 2025, Citrus SA Chair Mark Doecke updates growers on what he’s been working on over the past couple of months, including fruit fly management, import concerns, industry advocacy, and how the season has wrapped up. He also shares insights on juice market prices and finishes with a Christmas message for growers. Citrus SA continues to push for effective fruit fly tools, including sterile insect technology (SIT) . SIT has now been deployed in Renmark , with numbers dropping significantly. The team is also working on improving the process for bringing empty bins into SA , which is currently costly and complex for growers. A proposal to allow pomelo imports from Vietnam is raising red flags due to canker, HLB and other pest risks. Citrus SA is supporting Citrus Australia’s submission calling for stronger risk assessment. Letters have also been sent to the SA Minister to reinforce industry concerns. Expectations for improved fruit quality didn’t quite eventuate, with smaller fruit in some areas and some albedo issues . Hot weather and lack of rainfall contributed to size issues. Mark stresses the importance of good nutrition, GA, calcium sprays and regular…

People in this episode

Guest: Mark Doecke

Topics covered

• fruit fly management
• import concerns
• industry advocacy
• juice market prices
• season wrap-up
• grower insights

Keywords

• fruit fly
• import concerns
• juice prices
• Citrus SA
• Renmark
• pomelo imports
• nutrition
• GA
• calcium sprays

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Citrus SA, Citrus Australia

Places: Renmark, Vietnam

More episodes of The Citrus Segment

• Chair Chat: Season Update, Markets and Fruit Fly Progress · June 2, 2026 · 5 min
• Riverland Citrus Stories | Mike Arnold – A Lifetime in Citrus and Industry Development · April 5, 2026 · 22 min
• Riverland Citrus Stories I Helen Aggelettos – The Venus Citrus Story: Sydney Fish shop to Riverland Fruit Block · March 29, 2026 · 35 min
• Riverland Citrus Stories I Episode 5 - The Yandilla Park Story - recognising Andrew Weigall · March 22, 2026 · 49 min
• Riverland Citrus Stories I Episode 4 - John Plush and more than a century of citrus growing at Winkie · March 15, 2026 · 27 min
• Riverland Citrus Stories I Episode 3 - Jeff Knispel from the family kitchen to a national brand · March 9, 2026 · 1h 5m