Australian fruit producer Piñata Farms intends to plant an additional 11,000 Honey Gold mango trees near Katherine and Darwin this fall, following the wrap-up of a solid 2016-17 season. 

In a release, managing director Gavin Scurr said the new trees would be in full production by 2024.

For the season just finished, Scurr said volume over summer was consistent with previous years even though it was three weeks shorter, and strong local demand combined with record grower returns meant only 1% of the crop was exported.

The shorter season was caused by late winter flowering in the Northern Territory which delayed harvesting by a fortnight, and record heat in Queensland which sped up ripening and ended the season a week earlier than usual.

"Volume was down in the Northern Territory and up in Queensland, so, overall the season came home well for us," Scurr said.

"At our Wamuran farm on the Sunshine Coast, it usually takes 240 days from flowering to harvest. Due to the ongoing heat in Queensland, it took only 225 days."

Piñata Farms and 36 contracted growers produce Honey Gold mangoes in five states for progressive harvesting between November and March. Approximately 170,000 trees are under cultivation.

He said the Honey Gold variety was a consistent performer and continued to hold fourth spot in the Australian mango market behind Kensington Pride, Calypso and R2E2.

"Australian consumers recognise the Honey Gold mango is a premium product and they're prepared to pay a little bit more for it," he said.

The planting of new trees will begin in May and take about six weeks. Trees will begin producing fruit in about three years and progressively increase yield until they reach full production. Three of Piñata Farms' third party growers also expanded plantings by some 9,000 trees late last year.

Piñata Farms will host its annual Honey Gold Conference at Airlie Beach on May 1-2. The event, attended by Honey Gold growers from throughout Australia, is a chance to review the past season and forecast the next. Piñata Farms also presents various awards including Honey Gold Grower of the Year.

Piñata continues Princess trial crop

Piñata Farms will continue to trial late variety Princess mangoes in Queensland and the Northern Territory, following promising early results.

A small volume of Princess mangoes was harvested in March for initial review.

"It's early days yet, so we'll assess again next summer before deciding if we proceed commercially," Scurr said.

Princess mangoes have a magenta-colored skin and orange flesh. Trial crops are growing in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Winter strawberry season underway

Winter strawberry season is underway at Piñata Farms' Sunshine Coast farms where harvesting is set to start in late May. More than 50 hectares is under cultivation in the Wamuran district for production between May and October.

Planting is expected to finish later this month. Strawberries will be produced in the open field and under polytunnels.

Scurr said Piñata Farms would this year add small volumes of Parisienne Kiss, Sundrench and Viva Patricia varieties to its line-up.

"We trial new varieties every year as flavour is a major driver in the strawberry business. We're confident these have the attributes consumers love," he said.

Meanwhile, Piñata Farms' Stanthorpe strawberry farm will produce all fruit under polytunnels from next summer, following completion of 22 hectares of tunnel construction.

Scurr said the summer crop would be grown in beds under tunnels and in substrate on tables under tunnels from September.

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