“Cost-effective travel is core to our success”
Apple and Pear Australia Limited is sowing the seeds for grower success – at home and abroad.
Droughts, floods, bushfires, labour shortages; the past few years have been incredibly challenging for Australian farmers and growers. Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) – a not-for-profit body for the country’s 500-plus commercial apple and pear growers – plays a critical role in advocating for the industry, sharing insights and creating new trade opportunities in Australia and overseas.
APAL CEO Phil Turnbull says his members have continued to deliver more than 400,000 tonnes of high-quality fruit to Australian consumers each year, despite these setbacks. “Now we’re looking to further develop the reputation of Australian apples and pears in export markets, diversify the markets we already work in and reduce the overall risk our members face.
“To truly understand our members’ challenges and what they want to achieve, we need to see them in person. They need to spend time outdoors – it’s the nature of the job – and it’s just as important for us to be there on the ground in the orchards, too. It’s the body language and casual conversations in the orchard, after the formal meeting is over, that make all the difference.
So as soon as we could fly, we did. We’re now trying to cram two years worth of connections into six months of travel.”
Nearly every person in the APAL team flies interstate and overseas regularly so flexibility and convenience are important
– and the savings Qantas Business Rewards offer make a big difference. Says Turnbull: “With the amount of travel we do, we rely on outstanding service. Discounts – plus the ability to use Qantas Points – are key to responsibly managing our flight and hotel costs.”