Straight‑talking, practical and famously unflappable, Queensland apple grower Rosie Savio has helped drive growth on the family orchard and championed fellow producers. Photo: Glenda Riley

The daughter of orchardists at Stanthorpe on Queensland’s Granite Belt, you could say Rosie Savio grew up with apples in her blood.

When she married Frank Savio in 1974, Rosie became part of another well-known apple growing family, headed by industry legend, the late Peter Savio.

Not long afterwards Frank was diagnosed with incurable cancer and died in 1978, leaving Rosie a young widow with a small daughter, Marina, and a future that, in many families, might have meant stepping away from the business.

Instead, the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient stayed put and joined forces with brothers‑in‑law, John and Robert, and their families.

Together they expanded what started as a 12ha holding into a formidable operation of more than 100ha spread across multiple farms and producing about 12,500 bins of apples a year.

For the past three decades the business has focused solely on apples; mainly Ambrosia™, Envy™, Gala, Granny Smith, Jazz™, Pink Lady, Red Delicious and Smitten®.

If John and Robert are best known for overseeing the orchard and coolstores, Rosie has been the quiet force behind everything that happens once the fruit leaves the tree.

She and her sisters-in-law Julie and Mary-anne have run the packing shed and marketing, and orchestrated the record‑keeping, payroll, market coordination, payments and quality assurance systems needed to keep the enterprise on track.

“Until 2021 there were four generations of Savios in the business,” Rosie said. “There are now seven nephews and nieces working on the farm, while some others have left to pursue their own interests.”

During peak periods, Rosie coordinates 15 to 20 people in the shed, while her nephews oversee the seasonal workforce of 50 to 60 pickers – many of them backpackers and workers from Nepal – in the orchard from January to May.

The bulk of the crop is packed for Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, and other domestic customers.

One story that still makes Rosie shake her head dates back 21 years. The Savios had begun putting net over their blocks 18 years earlier, but a massive hailstorm in 2005 levelled sections of the orchard that were under flat netting, while the newer pitched netting came through largely unscathed.

The entire area has since been converted to pitched net where possible. Rosie said it was an expensive lesson, but one that had since paid for itself many times over.

Long before ‘digital transformation’ became a buzzword, Rosie introduced computer systems to manage the growing load of administration, compliance and QA, after attending initial meetings when QA was being developed.

That investment underpins everything from traceability to payroll and has been critical as red tape and customer requirements have intensified – something she believes has now gone over the top in places.

Rosie also helped diversify income by administering the family’s value‑added line, turning seconds fruit into a revolutionary product named Upple.

Launched in 2020, Upple was Australia’s first drinkable whole fruit, a fine apple purée snack made from everything but the core.

The nomination for the Lifetime Achievement Award described Rosie as dedicated, humble and always approachable, a woman who ‘never appears under the pump’ despite the scale and complexity of the business.

“She genuinely feels fortunate to still be doing this work,” it said.

“Her lifelong perseverance, comprehensive knowledge of the Australian apple landscape, and unwavering commitment to her family and staff make her a profoundly inspirational leader at both local community and national industry levels.”

The Savios have always been happy to share ideas with industry or overseas visitors, and are willing hosts and participants in the Future Orchards® program.

Rosie has been an anchor through some tough seasons – climatic and personal – caring for father-in-law Peter in her home for many years before his death at the age of 99 in 2022.

For her part, Rosie is quick to play down her impact. She was genuinely surprised to be recognised with the award.

“There are other people who’ve done more for the apple industry,” she said, before admitting she was both happy and humbled by the honour.

Beyond the farm gate, Rosie devoted nine years to serving on the APAL Board, bringing the same diligence and practicality to national industry issues that she applies in the packing shed.

For much of her career she was one of very few women in the room, whether it was at large grower meetings or small marketing meetings, but never shy about speaking up in male‑dominated forums.

Now in her 70s – an age when many of her peers have scaled back – Rosie is still working full-time and has no firm plans to retire.

“There’s too much to do!” she said.

This article was published in AFG magazine and on the APAL website.