Former SPC managing director Reg Weine has been appointed chair of Apple and Pear Australia Ltd.
Mr Weine was appointed chair in July, after joining the APAL board as a non-executive director in 2020.
He is the Pastoral Pork Company chair and is also the chair of Maggie Beer Holdings that owns Maggie Beer, Paris Creek Farm and St David Dairy brands.
Mr Weine was SPC’s managing director between 2015 and 2019.
Before joining SPC, Mr Weine was Bulla Dairy Food’s chief executive officer, Australia’s largest privately-owned dairy business.
Mr Weine believes the biggest opportunities for the horticulture industry lie in building per capita consumption, market growth and securing higher unit value to improve farm gate returns and create a better and more sustainable future for apple and pear growers.
In addition, he sees a critical need for better alignment between supply and demand and a great opportunity in developing key export markets to benefit the entire industry.
Mr Weine succeeds Michele Allan, who was APAL’s chair for the past seven years.
Goulburn Valley businessman Chris Fairless also serves on the APAL board.