Protected cropping systems can help manage production risks, but they can also change orchard conditions, including light, temperature, humidity, tree vigour, irrigation needs and fruit quality.
These case studies form part of the levy-funded optimising protected cherry production project (CY24004), led by NSW DPIRD, in partnership with TIA.
The project is investigating how protected cropping systems perform across different regions and orchard environments as well as how to adjust management approaches under covers.
The case studies below explore a range of protected cropping questions across New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Each case study looks at a specific production challenge, research question and treatment approach to help build practical knowledge for Australian cherry growers.
Variety: Samba Location: Orange, NSW
Excessive tree vigour is common under covers, as they can reduce light and increase humidity to create a favourable environment for vegetative growth. Growers using protective covers have raised concerns that their normal N application rates may be excessive under covered production systems, potentially resulting in excessive tree vigour and reduced fruit quality.
To better understand N requirements in covered cherry production, different N application rates are being investigated. This will help determine whether cherry production under covers needs more, less or the same amount of N than without covers.
How do different N rates under rain covers affect soil N, leaf N, new shoot growth (tree vigour), and fruit quality including size, weight, firmness, external colour and Brix?
Variety: Santina Location: Orange, NSW
Protective rain covers can complicate irrigation requirements by reducing evapotranspiration and increasing humidity.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that irrigation under covers could be reduced by around 30-50% without negatively affecting tree performance or cherry quality. However, there has been little robust data to inform irrigation adjustments under covers.
Compared to business-as-usual irrigation (100%), how does deficit irrigation (50%) affect microclimate (mainly humidity), crop stress and fruit quality?
Variety: Santina Location: Gulgong, NSW
Protective covers, including hail and bird netting, can alter microclimate conditions such as temperature and humidity, thus affecting cherry quality. However, little is known about the effects of hail netting in cherry orchards in Australia, particularly in mainland cherry growing regions. Such knowledge will help growers better manage cherry production under netting.
How does permanent hail netting affect orchard microclimate and cherry quality in Australia?
Variety: Lapins Location: Sidmouth, Tasmania
Protective rain covers can alter orchard microclimate, such as temperature, humidity and wind speed, which can then affect cherry quality. However, it is unclear how covers influence microclimate in cherry orchards and fruit quality in Australia, particularly in mainland cherry growing regions.
Variety: Sweet Aryana Location: Shepparton, Vic
Growers have raised concerns that protective rain covers might reduce fruit firmness by increasing heat and humidity and limiting calcium uptake. Although gibberellic acid (GA) is commonly used to improve fruit firmness and size under covered production systems, the appropriate application rate is unclear. Excessive GA application can negatively affect fruit quality and tree performance, highlighting the need for evidence-based recommendations.
What are the effects of three different GA applications on cherry quality under protective rain covers?
Variety: Late Garnett Location: Alexandra, Vic
Protective covers can promote excessive vegetative growth by creating a warmer, more humid environment with reduced wind exposure. Although root pruning has been suggested as a strategy to control tree vigour, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in protected cherry production or its impact of fruit quality.
How does root pruning affect tree vigour and fruit quality in trees grown under covers compared to those without covers?
Variety: Giant Ruby Location: Alexandra, Vic
Protective rain covers can significantly alter orchard microclimate, such as temperature, humidity and wind speed. Such changes can then affect cherry quality. However, there is limited knowledge about how covers influence orchard microclimate and cherry quality in Australia, particularly in mainland cherry growing regions.
How do protective rain covers combined with nets affect orchard microclimate and cherry quality in Australia?
Variety: Lapins Location: Sidmouth, Tasmania
Although previous research in Tasmania has investigated the effects of protective rain covers on tree physiology and fruit quality, there is still limited understanding of how rain covers modify light transmission, orchard microclimate and tree physiological responses under cool climate conditions. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to optimise orchard management and consistently achieve high fruit quality.
Variety: Lapins Location: Campania, Tasmania
Protective rain covers can modify light availability for cherry crops, potentially influencing fruit quality. However, there is limited understanding of how covers influence light conditions in orchards and cherry quality in Australia.
How do hail netting, clear rain covers with netting, and opaque rain covers with netting affect orchard light availability and fruit quality in Tasmania?
Director
Tony Hannaford is a cherry grower from South Australia, producing based predominantly in the Torrens Valley of the Adelaide Hills.
Tony’s family have a long history of orcharding. Tony introduced cherries in 1985 and now has multiple varieties spanning a long season with fruit delivered across Australia and the globe. This is all supported by the latest technology in the packing shed.
Tony has long supported and been active for the cherry industry – having also served on the Cherry Industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panel.
Director
Nic Hansen is a fourth-generation cherry grower based in Southern Tasmania and brings deep grower knowledge and long-standing industry involvement to the CGA Board.
Nic grows sweet cherries at Old Beach and is part of Hansen Orchards, one of Tasmania’s largest cherry growing businesses. He has previously represented Tasmania as the State Director on the CGA Board and has served on the HIA Cherry SIAP, contributing to national industry planning and decision-making.
Nic is currently serving his second term as President of Fruit Growers Tasmania. He brings a strong grower perspective, practical experience, and a commitment to effective industry leadership, supporting CGA’s role as the national peak body for Australian cherry growers.
Honorary Treasurer
Grant Piggott has been Chief Executive Officer of Fruit Producers SA, the grower association for cherries in South Australia since 2023 and served as its representative on the Cherry Growers Australia Board from June 2024.
He brings significant experience in finance, strategy and commercial management. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served for 15 years as an elected member in Local Government.
Grant treasures his childhood on a wheat sheep farm in the Upper North of South Australia, still owned by his family. He has maintained links to primary production for almost 30 years of his working career, primarily through his senior management role at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA.
In his short tenure as industry representative, he has developed a passion for the successful growing and marketing of quality cherries. Grant is convinced of the deserved glamour status of cherries – healthy, photogenic, delicious, easy to eat and inextricably associated with the joy of Summer and Christmas.
Following his involvement as part of the team which guided the change of Cherry Growers Australia to a company limited by guarantee in May 2025, Grant was invited to serve as a Director on the Board in September 2025 and was appointed Treasurer.
Director
Andrew Fairley bio coming soon
Director
Fiona has been an active participant in the cherry industry for 25 years. She was President of NSW Cherry Growers in the past and has served on the cherry Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP) for past 5 years.
Fiona is currently a board member of Apple & Pear Aust Ltd (APAL) and the FAR (finance, audit and risk) committee for APAL. APAL manage domestic and international brands of produce including Pink Lady® apples. APAL is also the PIB for the 400 plus growers of Australia.
Fiona manages the business activities of BiteRiot, reporting to a board each month. She brings a wealth of experience across corporate governance & strategic planning, finance, business and marketing to the CGA board.
Deputy Chair
Greg Perry brings extensive leadership experience across the cherry industry, infrastructure, and project management, with a strong focus on governance, strategy, and commercial oversight.
Raised in the cherry industry, Greg has a deep understanding of production challenges and the importance of long-term industry sustainability. He is the Managing Director of a project management consultancy, delivering complex infrastructure, development, and operational programs across multiple sectors.
Greg has held senior leadership and board-level roles in both industry and government-aligned organisations, including service on the NSW Cherry Growers Association board and advisory roles supporting strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and investment decision-making. His experience spans financial oversight, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and guiding organisations through periods of structural change.
Greg brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to the CGA Board, with a strong commitment to governance integrity, member representation, and supporting the continued growth and resilience of the Australian cherry industry.
Chair
I grew up on our family farm in Wandin and picked cherries at an early age.
I loved the camaraderie of working with people and still do today. It is a buzz that makes coming to work enjoyable regardless of what you are doing!!
I studied to be a secondary Art and Craft teacher. However, I wanted to work in the industry first so worked in design and sales in the textile industry in Melbourne and Sydney.
Missing the family business in Sydney I returned to the family, cherries, and WandinValley Farms.
In 2007 our family bought the remaining shares in Wandin Valley Farms, and we all became involved in the business.
In 2016 I became the CEO of Wandin Valley Farms.
I am proud of what we do and the industry we are involved in. We produce a product that is fresh, flavorsome, healthy and creates excitement all bundled in with Christmas and Summer!!
Elected to VCA committee 26th October 2009
Elected to President of VCA 17th October 2013
Elected to President of CGA 24th January 2024