THE Sunraysia dried fruits industry faces one of its worst periods in its history following a week of humid weather and continued rain.
It is estimated that 22 per cent of the district’s fruit has been destroyed by mould — representing a loss to growers of 1,000,000 pounds.
It was estimated that growers have lost 13,400 tons of fruit.
Individual loss estimates were put at 2000 tons of currants, 9400 tons of sultanas and 2000 tons of lexias based on losses compared with the January crop estimate during the wet harvest seasons of 1947 and 1950.
One grower reported that the whole of his crop would waste because of the spread of mould.
Some other growers, however, had reported only slight traces of damage.
The Australian Dried Fruits Association submitted a plan to the Federal Government to stabilise and safeguard the industry.
They included a “floor price” for each grade of fruit exported seasonally and based on the cost of production and a price-levelling fund.
Growers say the plan is needed because 80 per cent of production is exported and export prices have dropped following overseas competition.
In addition, returns do “not nearly” meet costs, and production costs have risen tremendously.
There was a strong smell of mould around dozens of district properties, particularly around racks where tons of fruit has been spread to dry.
Even with a clearing of the weather, full-scale harvesting could not be continued for about two days.
Properties are water-logged, and in some places there are vast expanses of water with only the vine foliage showing.
On one Red Cliffs property, a tractor which became bogged at the weekend has gradually sunk further into the ground and is now up to its axles in water and mud.
