A shift in production has been reflected in the location of this years Australian Prune Industry Association (APIA) annual conference in Griffith on October 22.

Prune production in the Riverina has gone into overdrive to overtake Young as the region with the largest area planted to prunes.

Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW horticulturist and prune industry development manager, Anne Mooney, said a recent survey shows that the Riverina now has more than double the area of prunes compared with Young - the traditional home of the Australian dried plum.

"The industry is expanding in the Riverina with 46 growers and 867 hectares of prune trees," Ms Mooney said.

"Riverina growers are focussing on the future of the industry with value-adding technology including the installation of 101 drying tunnels capable of drying 310 tonnes per day."

Ms Mooney will provide growers with the latest overseas developments from the 11th International Prune Conference in France she attended earlier this year and a tour of Californian prune production.

Keynote speaker, I&I NSW agriculture climate change program leader, Kate Lorimer-Ward, will simplify carbon trading concepts and address issues surrounding future emissions trading schemes.

Conference highlights will feature results from new variety trials, fruit dehydration developments and panel discussions on fruit quality and processing.

A report to be delivered by APIA chair, Cheryl Healy, will outline the progress made by the prune promotions committee.

Griffith, Yenda, Yoogali, Beelbangera, Bilbul, Hanwood, Darlington Point, Coleambally and Cobram in Victoria now make up the major prune growing area in the Riverina, followed by Young and the Barossa Valley and Riverland in South Australia.

For more information about the APIA conference contact Anne Mooney (02) 6391 3873 or anne.mooney@industry.nsw.gov.au

Digital photographs available bernadette.york@industry.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Bernadette York (02) 6391 3936 or 0427 773 785