What is it all about?

This project delivers a coordinated national retail quality, education and merchandising program for Australian cherries and summerfruit. It brings together earlier, separate programs into one streamlined approach, improving efficiency while maintaining a strong focus on fruit quality and availability at retail.

The program trains fresh produce staff in major retail stores on best practice handling, storage and merchandising of cherries and summerfruit. A dedicated field team of merchandisers visits stores multiple times during the season, providing in store coaching, auditing displays and storage practices, and placing educational materials in back of house areas. Training is supported by online eLearning modules, videos and practical guides tailored to retail staff.

Most activity is delivered through Woolworths stores nationally, with Costco included for the first time, alongside a smaller tailored program for fresh markets and greengrocers. Store visits focus on improving fruit presentation, reducing quality defects, maintaining full displays and lifting staff knowledge across the categories.

The project is expected to deliver more consistent fruit quality on shelves, better in store handling practices, reduced waste and spoilage, and stronger retail execution throughout the season. Regular reporting, dashboards and a final evaluation will share insights with industry to support continuous improvement in retail performance.