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The inaugural Hort Connections 2017, hosted by AUSVEG and the Produce Marketing Association Australia-
New Zealand, attracted around 2,500 delegates who heard from a wide array of speakers, took part in a
variety of networking opportunities and recognised the best and brightest in the horticulture industry over
three eventful days.
HORT CONNECTIONS 2017: A TRULY COL LABORAT I VE
HORTICULTURE EVENT
The most eagerly anticipated event in Australian horticulture
kicked off on Monday 15 May, with approximately 2,500 local
and international delegates making their way to the Adelaide
Convention Centre for the inaugural Hort Connections 2017.
For the first time, the event was hosted by AUSVEG and the
Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA
A-NZ), bringing together the largest number of growers, supply
chain members, government stakeholders and industry service
providers in the Australian horticulture industry.
Hort Connections 2017 was co-hosted by a range of
horticulture industry bodies including Nursery and Garden
Industry Australia, Australian Organic, Onions Australia, Irrigation
Australia, Growcom and Potatoes South Australia. Fresh Markets
Australia and the Central Markets Association of Australia were
official trade show sponsors as well as co-hosts.
The three-day event presented the nation’s vegetable and
potato growers with the opportunity to discuss industry issues
and learn from each other and their overseas counterparts. It
was also a great way for members of the wider horticulture
industry to connect and discuss areas of mutual concern.
MONDAY 15 MAY
During the first day of Hort Connections, Potatoes South
Australia hosted a luncheon before the Potato Industry
Extension Forum, which was well-attended by members
of the potato industry (see page 14 for more information).
Meanwhile, the Horticulture Field Day allowed over 50
growers and industry members to tour a range of facilities
focusing on the supply chain, research and innovation, and
on-farm development. Delegates toured the TORO factory
and met with leading researchers at the South Australian
Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and Plant
Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC). The next
stop was Eastbrook Farms at Mount Barker, where delegates
met Brussels sprout grower Scott Samwell who is hosting a
Soil Wealth/Integrated Crop Protection field trial site.
In the evening, delegates gathered for the Welcome
Reception, where Master of Ceremonies Toby Travanner
introduced the Hon. Tung Ngo, the first Vietnamese-born
Member of Parliament in South Australia. The welcome
ribbon was cut by Mr Ngo, AUSVEG Chairman Geoff Moar
and PMA A-NZ Chairman Andrew Francey, marking the
official opening of Hort Connections 2017. With more than
200 industry booths on display, the Trade Show certainly
offered plenty of thought-provoking discussion over the
next couple of days.
TUESDAY 16 MAY
At the Perfection Fresh Breakfast on Tuesday morning,
Tom O’Toole from Beechworth Bakery entertained the
crowd and spoke about how attitudes in the workplace
are fundamental to a great organisational culture, and why
customer service matters.
The first plenary session featured Assistant Minister for
Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston,
who provided the opening address and urged the industry to
take ownership of its levy funds.
Sean Sands from Monash University spoke about the changing
consumer decision journey and outlined seven key themes that
impact consumer purchasing behaviour, known as SCAMPER
(simplify, convenience, activist, membership, personal, editorial
and responsibility). He was followed by Jaquie Scammell, a
customer relations expert who discussed the trends in Australia
impacting the workplace and the three personas taken on by
those in business – explorers, teachers and makers.
Bega Cheese Executive Chairman Barry Irvin addressed the
crowd about encouraging growth and developing new intellect
within business, while Cultivate Principal Lone Jespersen
discussed the importance of cultivating a food safety culture in
the horticulture industry.
After lunch, delegates could visit the Trade Show, join the
Adelaide Retail Tour, or attend the concurrent speaker sessions
dedicated to Global Innovations in Horticulture, Fresh Marketing
Insights, Fresh Business Perspectives, Irrigation Australia and
Onions Australia.
After a busy day of speaker sessions and networking, delegates
attended the DuPont ‘Australiana’ Theme Night, which gave
them the opportunity to relax with friends and colleagues while
being entertained by an acoustic band and, in keeping with the
theme, two Australian whip crackers.
WEDNESDAY 17 MAY
It was an early start for some, with delegates getting up before
sunrise to tour the South Australian Produce Market. Delegates
also met with the Australian Produce Collective and learnt about
export opportunities with ‘Fresh Please’, as well as networking
with industry representatives.
Two breakfasts took place on Wednesday morning – the
Convention breakfast sponsored by Syngenta, and the Women’s
Fresh Perspectives Roaming Breakfast, which is a supportive
platform built to connect, inform and cultivate women’s
potential within the fresh produce and floral industry.
Mental health issues and their impact on individuals and
communities in regional Australia were also highlighted at
Hort Connections. beyondblue Chairman and former Victorian
premier Jeff Kennett opened the discussion to a captivated
audience, where he outlined the prevalence of depression in
rural areas of Australia, and looked at tactics to help those who
are struggling.
A Mental Health Panel comprising Mal Coutts from Talk
to a Mate, Linda Bertram from the South Australian Country
Women’s Association and Victorian potato grower Stu Jennings
also encouraged growers to speak up when they’re feeling
down (turn to page 38 for more details).
The panel was followed by a State of the Industry
discussion facilitated by former ABC radio broadcaster
Tonya Roberts, where AUSVEG CEO James Whiteside and
PMA A-NZ CEO Darren Keating spoke about the issues
facing their respective industries and discussed the value
of industry collaboration.
After morning tea, delegates again broke off into concurrent
speaker sessions that targeted issues in their respective
industries. This included Fresh Business Perspectives, Fresh
Marketing Insights, Australian Organic, Irrigation Australia,
Horticulture Innovation Australia and the launch of Growcom’s
Fair Farms Initiative, which aims to ensure that growers are
supported with tools and information to implement good
employment practices that comply with workplace relations
laws and industry standards (see page 35 for more information).
POTATO PRESENTATIONS
In the dedicated Vegetable and Potato Stream on Wednesday
afternoon, Freshlogic Managing Director Martin Kneebone
discussed the top 20 Australian vegetables as ranked by their
domestic wholesale volume and value. Visy’s Simon Gray then
spoke about trends and innovation in smart packaging, while
Customer relations expert Jaquie Scammell discussed
the trends in Australia impacting the workplace.
With more than 200 industry booths on display,
the Trade Show had plenty on offer for delegates.
State of the Industry discussion with AUSVEG CEO James
Whiteside (right) and PMA A-NZ CEO Darren Keating.
Whip cracking entertainment at the DuPont 'Australiana' Theme Night.
Photography by Andrew Beveridge.