Riverland fruit growers seek extra income amid fruit fly pressures
In Australia’s Riverland region, fruit growers are seeking additional sources of income because of crop losses and the costs of controlling Queensland fruit fly. Jodi Miltenoff, the owner of a nursery in Kambrai and orchards in Sunlands, is working as a project manager on the construction of a new hotel in Port Adelaide while his son runs the family agribusiness.
As reported by ABC News Australia, extreme heatwaves damaged most of Miltenoff’s crop last summer. Ongoing fruit fly control costs became an additional financial burden. He grows jujubes, a small sweet fruit also known as the Chinese or red date.
Trade restrictions
After an outbreak of Queensland fruit fly was declared in Renmark West in late December 2020, rules have been in place in the region restricting the movement of produce and requiring approved treatment before sale. To supply fresh fruit to the main market in Adelaide, Miltenoff needs expensive cold treatment or fumigation.
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According to the farmer, Riverland producers affected by the restrictions directed their produce to Australia’s east coast. This increased supply on that market and significantly lowered prices. Exports of dried jujubes to Tokyo supported his farm, but he lost access to the fresh produce market.
Funding and easing restrictions
Data from the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) show that of the A$43 million allocated to fruit fly control in the previous financial year, A$10 million remained unused due to fewer pest detections. In 2024–25, 7,794 detections were recorded in the state, compared with 4,030 in 2025–26.
Citrus SA chair Mark Decke said the number of detections had almost halved, but the restrictions, in his assessment, cost the citrus industry about A$20 million annually. Citrus SA and Summerfruit SA held meetings on the possible removal of the area including the towns of Waikerie, Cadell, Holder, Sunlands and Taylorville from the restricted zone. PIRSA stated that this would require no new pest detections during an agreed period and compliance with all protocol requirements.
