This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

Changes in market conditions in the summerfruit (fresh stonefruit) industry over recent years had led Summerfruit Australia to identify a need to improve industry data collection and dissemination to better assess industry dynamics and to support decision making processes within the industry. As a first step, the need for improved industry data in relation to plantings, harvest volumes and times was identified. This data had the ability to assist in supply chain management, overcoming over and under supply situations in the market, and identifying supply opportunities for growers.

The aim of this project was to scope, customise and support the implementation of an industry data collection and reporting system, based on the InfoCrop system; which allowed for data to be collected from summerfruit growers, aggregated (so that no individual business’s data could be identified) and reports made available to participating businesses in a timely manner. The project also aimed to build capacity in Summerfruit Australia so that there were on-going system management skills within the industry.

Provision of appropriate industry data would assist with management and marketing decisions at both an enterprise and industry level.

This report documents the processes that were employed and the materials developed to support the implementation of ‘InfoStone’, as the system was known, for the Australian summerfruit industry.

Challenges in the implementation process were discussed, as were recommendations on further activities the industry should consider undertaking to ensure the on-going success of InfoStone as an industry data collection and reporting system.