Arvela has recently completed two commercial alternative-pollinator (AP) deployments in blueberry and avocado orchards in Western Australia, with 2027 orders now open nationally.
This season represented a major operational step for the business. Across two different crops and production environments, the team produced, prepared and released managed pollinators over extended (6-12 week) flowering windows.
In netted blueberries, Arvela completed a comparative program across a commercial production block. The field component is now finished and harvesting has commenced. Crop data will be supplied through the harvest period, which is expected to continue into January 2027.
The grower’s visual assessment found comparable fruit load and berry development across the AP and honey-bee areas during flowering. Harvest measurement is now underway to quantify performance. While this is not yet a yield result, it is an encouraging commercial observation from the completed field deployment.
In avocados, APs were deployed within a semi-open commercial orchard environment. The program has generated practical learning about release timing, field observations, orchard variability and the factors that must be considered when interpreting subsequent fruit-set and yield information. Formal fruitlet assessment will occur after the crop’s natural early fruit drop, with later yield data used to assess final performance.
Arvela’s objective is to provide growers with a practical diversification option that can be used alongside their existing hive program. Rather than requiring a grower to replace an entire pollination system, a program can begin with a crop-specific substitution level that suits the farm, crop and evidence available.
Orders for the 2027 flowering season are now open nationally. Contact us now to discuss and plan for the season ahead!
Talk to Arvela’s pollination team:
arvela.com.au/pollination | pollination@arvela.com.au | 0408 900 591