A RECORD crowd of 600 delegates attended the Australian Almond Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre in October.
The event is held every two years and again provided a great opportunity for those in the industry to network and learn.
International guests from California and Spain provided great insights into almond production, focusing on the growing techniques, pest and disease management, and varieties being produced.
The newcomers panel was also well attended, with speakers from WA, Victoria, NSW and SA sharing their learnings about building processing facilities and large new almond orchards from greenfield sites.
With 40 per cent of Australia’s almond orchards nearing 20 years old, the need to make key decisions on redevelopment sparked wide-spread interest in a number of the sessions during the conference.
Key researchers from Spain, California and Australia discussed varietal preference, rootstock choices, as well as tree-planting densities. While there was no standout answer, it was clear growers are looking for a high-yielding tree.
The Almond Board of Australia’s (ABA) new marketing manager Mel Wyness outlined how Australian almonds would be promoted domestically and internationally.
The marketing team also revealed their new branding, with the slogan “Love almonds, they’ll love you back”.
An almond chair, shaped like a kernel, was also unveiled. It symbolises a comfortable, nurturing space and will be used for consumer events across Australia, while Murray, the new almond kangaroo, will be used as a global mascot.
Sumit Saran from SS Associates, in Delhi, has been contracted to be the ABA’s eyes and ears on the ground in India, as work ramps up to raise the profile of Australian almonds in this traditional market.
His presentation outlined why understanding India is challening, with rich and poor, modern and traditional elements all co-existing in a chaotic setting that is changing rapidly.
Sumit explained that cricket, Bollywood and the power of aspiration binds the population, which speaks 22 major languages.
Attendees at the gala dinner had the opportunity to hear from chef and TV personality Poh Ling Yeow, who is the latest Australian almonds ambassador.
The Masterchef judge is a big fan of almonds and their versatility for use in both sweet and savory dishes.
Also at the gala dinner, Larry Cavallaro and Paul Martin were inducted into the Almond Board of Australia Hall of Fame.
Larry was a pioneering almond grower in Angle Vale, but also was the deputy chairman and later managing director of the Almond Co-operative and oversaw the co-op’s move from Edwardstown to Berri in the mid-80s.
Paul grew up in Willunga, where his family owned an almond orchard, before moving to the Riverland where he played a key role in the development of Lindsay Point and other key developments, including Jubilee and Century Orchards.
Industry Service Awards were also presented to retiring ABA marketing manager Joseph Ebbage, Almondco’s managing director Brenton Woolston, and Sunraysia bee broker Trevor Monson.
The conference also provided an opportunity to launch new initiatives set to take place in 2025 and beyond, including study tours to Spain/Portugal and California, as well as a new leadership program.
The ABA’s incoming chairman Alan Hoppe was in attendance and introduced himself to delegates.
Mr Hoppe will take over from Peter Hayes at the beginning of 2025. Mt Hayes was the ABA’s first independent chair and has been at the helm for the past five years.
Mr Hoppe has extensive agribusiness experience and was involved in the Macquarie almond investments earlier in his career.
