It has a key influence on the direction of research and development and the marketing and promotions strategies designed to advance the Australian apple and pear industry, domestically and internationally. These activities are funded through levies paid by each apple and pear grower in Australia. The funds and many of the activities are administered through Horticulture Australia Limited in close association with APAL.
APAL also represents the industry on agri-political issues, including campaigning to protect the Australian pome fruit industry against quarantine risks posed by unsafe imports. These activities are funded separately from the levies through specific contributions.
In addition, APAL manages a number of trademarks internationally on behalf of industry - most notably the Pink Lady™ and Sundowner™ trademarks, which allows growers worldwide to sell premium quality apples from the Cripps Pink and Cripps Red apple varieties at a premium price.
APAL was established as a company limited by guarantee in August 2002 by transferring the incorporation of the Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association Inc. (AAPGA) from the Associations Incorporation Act (Vic) 1981 to the Corporations Act (Cth) 2001.
APAL adopted a new constitution and changed its name but continues the role and activities of the AAPGA, which was originally formed in 1945 - to promote the interests of apple and pear growers throughout Australia.
Apples and pears are grown in all six Australian states, (not in the Northern Territory). The major apple and pear producing areas are Stanthorpe in Southern Queensland, Orange and Batlow in New South Wales, the Goulburn Valley in Victoria and Southern Victoria, Huon Valley in Tasmania, Adelaide Hills in South Australia and the Perth Hills, Donnybrook and Manjimup regions in Western Australia. In addition, there are many small pockets of apple and pear production in each state.
Victoria is Australia's largest producer of apples and pears, generally producing more than 30 per cent of the nation's apples and close to 90 per cent of the nation's pears - mostly from the Goulburn Valley area around Shepparton. Tasmania and Western Australia are the next largest apple producing states.
The main apple varieties grown traditionally have been Red Delicious and Granny Smith (55 per cent of production in 1998/99). However, newer varieties such as Gala, Fuji, Cripps Pink (which may be sold using the trademark brand name Pink Lady™ and Cripps Red (which may be sold using the trademark brand name Sundowner™ now account for more than 40 per cent of production.
Apple and pear exports are focused on the premium markets of Asia, Europe and Sub-Continental Asia.
Australia, in relation to other Apple and Pear producing countries, represents around 0.8 per cent of world production of apples and 1.4 per cent of world pear production.
APAL has two categories of membership. Grower members are levy-paying producers of apples and/or pears and who have applied for APAL membership, while state organisations, which represent apple and pear growers in each state, constitute a second category of membership.
Each levy payer can register as an APAL member by contacting the company. An APAL member has:
To become an APAL member, fill in the below application form and return it to the APAL office.
Download |
PDF |
| Membership Application Form |  |
Each state has an association that represents apple and pear growers in their state, generally on a membership basis.
Representative |
State Association |
Phone |
Fax |
| Trevor Ranford | Apple & Pear Growers Association of South Australia | 08 8349 5073 | 08 8349 5316 |
| Alan Hill | Western Australian Fruit Growers Association | 08 9455 2075 | 08 9455 2096 |
| John Wilson | Fruit Growers Victoria | 03 5825 3700 | 03 5825 5029 |
| Sally Tennant | Fruit Growers Tasmania | 03 6231 1944 | 03 6231 1966 |
| Luke Jewell | New South Wales Farmers Association | 02 8251 1700 | 02 8251 1750 |
| Julie Moore | Growcom | 07 3620 3844 | 07 3620 3880 |
