Family-owned fresh produce company Montague has had 5000 apple trees damaged by bushfire in Batlow, New South Wales, but has managed to keep majority of its orchard safe. The orchard manager is still assessing the affected crop.
Montague has a 75-hectare orchard in Batlow with 5000 trees on the boundary of the property damaged by the fires. Around 200,000 apple trees were saved and remain as a viable crop.
“It is with great relief and gratitude that we announce only minor damage to our 75-hectare apple orchard in Batlow NSW due to fire over the weekend of January 4 and 5,” said Montague CEO Scott Montague.
“All Montague staff were evacuated prior to the arrival of the fire and no injuries have been reported.”
“Our sincere thanks is extended to our staff, the local community, the NSW RFS and Emergency Service workers for their efforts in protecting local assets and houses in the area. Our thoughts turn to the local people in the Batlow who have lost property and tragically one reported lost life. We are committed to supporting recovery of the region.”
The Montague team will be working with the local industry to repair damages, and despite these losses, a significant crop of “high quality apples from the Batlow region” will be available throughout the country in the coming season, said Montague.
As the mature trees have not aborted the young fruit, it is likely some of the damaged trees may be saved as a viable crop.
In a statement, Montague said apple trees take around five years until they produce a commercial crop and the trees at Batlow are “in their prime and grow some of the best apples in Australia”.
Montague has also announced its stonefruit production, including peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums, grown in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, are on its way to supermarkets and greengrocers nationwide.
Montague’s Croc Eggs range is available exclusively to Woolworths with plums, and the Montague tree stonefruit range is available with plums, nectarines, peaches and apricots, across Coles, Costco, Aldi and independent retailers.
