He has many years of experience in growing and research.

He is a director of the Sunsweet Board and the chairman of the Californian Dried Plum Board’s (CDPB) production and research sub committee.

Mr Turkocvich is extremely knowledgeable about many topics.

He shared information about the Californian drought situation, prune crop management, the importance of plant breeding and his experience on mechanical thinning.

Flavio Salvestro and his son Jade hosted 30 prune growers and industry representatives at a thinning demonstration in their Bilbul orchard.

During the demonstration growers were surprised to find outu that the crop load was double what was first expected.

Mr Turkovich said thinning the crop by half would increase size and sugar levels, helping to maximise returns.

“The most dangerous thing a grower can do is to think they can increase size and sugar levels by adding more fertilizer and water,” Mr Turkovich said.

Prune growers are preparing for a bigger crop than first anticipated after a huge flowering in late September, according to Australian Prune Industry Association industry development officer Ann Furner.

“We had ideal weather conditions during flowering, cool temperatures and low winds and the growers that had an earlier flowering have seen a big fruit set,” Ms Furner said.

For several years the major processors Angas Park, Verity and Sunsweet have been telling growers that it is important to grow larger fruit to receive premium prices.

There is no market for small fruit around the world so the growers who have seen a big fruit set are thinking about thinning.

The first known reference to prunes in Australia was recorded in June 1892 when the Camden Park Orchard of the Macarthur’s was awarded first prize in the 1891 National Prize Competition for orchards over 10 acres.

The first plantings in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area were in 1912 following the establishment of the MIA.

Initial plantings included the First World War Soldier Settlement scheme when prunes were included in blocks at Corbie Hill near Leeton and at Lake Wyangan near Griffith.

Further plantings around Yenda, Yoogali and Hanwood saw a very gradual expansion of the industry in the area.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that considerable expansion of the industry took place.