Soil type and the effect of management on the condition of the soil are important determinants of the production performance of orchards and have profound effects on long-term profits. Land managers need tools that are reliable, quick and easy to use in order to help them assess the condition of their soils and their suitability for growing orchard crops, and to make informed decisions that will lead to sustainable land and environmental management. To this end, Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) provides a quick and simple method to assess soil condition and plant performance. The VSA method can also be used to assess the suitability and limitations of a soil for pipfruit, stonefruit and vine crops. Soils with good VSA scores will usually give the best production with the lowest establishment and operational costs.