Fruit Profitability Program

Make better decisions with orchard data that works for you!

Cohort 2 is now open for expressions of interest. Following strong results and learnings from Cohort 1 (apple growers), the program is expanding to welcome apple growers and cherry fruit growers — including a dedicated cherry growers stream — for the 2026/27 season.

 Express Interest - Cohort 2   FAQs

About the program

The Fruit Profitability Program helps growers turn everyday orchard data into practical and profitable decisions. We focus on collecting the right data, closing the loop with clear insights and sharing benchmark comparisons so you can see how your varieties stack up.

Why it matters:

• Data collection can be costly and frustrating if it isn’t used to improve orchard management practices.
• We help you capture the essentials, analyse the results and translate findings into action on orchard.

Benefits for growers 

• Actionable insights, not spreadsheets for their own sake.
  We keep the questions focused on production, packout, price and harvest labour so you get clear signals you can act on.
• Benchmarking by variety.
  See how your varieties perform against your own historical records and against the cohort.
• Season-to-season improvement.
  Use 2025 actuals and 2026 real time estimates to adjust labour, harvest and post-harvest decisions.
• Support from specialists.
  AgFirst consultants provide guidance throughout the process.
• Peer learning.
  Learn from other growers’ approaches via cohort summaries and a mid‑year webinar.

How it works

We run a structured, three‑phase approach so the data stays simple, useful and timely.

Watch the webinar here

Phase 1 — Data Systems Questionnaire & Fruit Growers Tasmania Census Completion

Goal: For us to understand how you currently record orchard data, including what works, what doesn’t and what you’ve tried.

What we ask:

• Do you current collect orchard data?
• Which metrics (eg. yields, packout) and what systems (apps/spreadsheets)?
• If you're not collecting, why? What’s getting in the way?

Outcome: A co‑designed approach that focuses effort on the most valuable metrics and tools.

Phase 2 — 2026 Production, Packout & Price + Harvest Labour

Goal: Capture actual data by variety for 2026.

What’s collected:

• Production by variety
• Packout by grade
• Price by variety
• Harvest labour expenditure

Outcome: Clear benchmarking reports so you can compare your variety performance with the cohort and spot priority improvements.

Phase 3 — 2027 Production, Packout & Price (Estimates) + Real Time Labour

Goal: Real time insights during harvest.

What’s collected:

• In season production data
• Estimated packout and pricing
• Current harvest labour expenditure (captured as harvest progresses)

Outcome: Faster feedback and better decisions while the season is still live, not months later.

What participants will receive

• Simple data capture templates (aligned to what growers actually use).
• Benchmarking reports focused on the metrics that influence profitability.
• Webinar and (anonymised) cohort insights to see what’s working for others.
• Direct support from AgFirst throughout data collection.

Who can join

• Cohort 2: Apple growers and cherry growers - Apply in August 2026

Whether you’re already collecting detailed data or just getting started, we’ll meet you where you are at and help you focus on high value metrics first.

Timeframes at a glance

• August 2026: Sign up with Fruit Growers Tasmania, then receive your data collection forms for the 2026 crop (including a cherry-specific template if relevant) via email, with follow-up calls/texts to help you get set up.
• September 2026: AgFirst visits Tasmania for in-person support — bringing your data collection, answering questions, and helping refine what's being measured based on grower feedback.
• October 2026: 2026 crop data is finalised and you receive your benchmarking report. This shows how your varieties compare to your own history and the cohort.
• December- March 2027: As the next season gets underway, growers capture 2026/2027 harvest data in real time.
• April 2027 – Benchmarking report for apples and cherries finalised and shared
• May 2027 – AgFirst visit, to review individual reports with you and help prioritise and improvements for the coming year.

 

Contact & next steps

Interested in joining or want more information?

AgFirst Consultant: Sarah McArley
Email: Sarah.mcarley@agfirst.co.nz
Phone: +64 21 175 7263

Fruit Growers Tasmania contact: Industry Development Officer
Email: ido@fruitgrowerstas.org.au
Phone: +61 437 628 648

Express interest FAQs

Partners & support

This program is delivered by Fruit Growers Tasmania and AgFirst, with support from the Tasmanian Government.