The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated that in 2003, there were approximately 4390 vegetable growing operations and 6,000 growers across Australia, producing more than $1.7 billion worth of produce. Furthermore, a report conducted in 2005, the ‘Vegetable Growers with A Language Other Than English Snapshot Report’ identified that 40 per cent of Australian growers were from a Language Other Than English (LOTE) background.

In 2004/05, following the snapshot report, AUSVEG undertook the first “Vegetable Industry Communication Audit” to identify opportunities and communication gaps to growers, industry, government and the broader community. This audit identified growers with a LOTE as a group with particular communication needs that had to be addressed. Hort Innovation (which was then Horticulture Australia Limited) responded to this need by investing in the LOTE project.

The LOTE project addressed these communication requirements, adhering to critical issues recommended in the 2005 snapshot report over a two year time frame.

This report brought together valuable information regarding LOTE growers, a group that formed 40 per cent of Australia’s vegetable industry and outlined how the communication barrier could be broken down.

Key findings from this project were that translating material into the LOTE grower’s primary language wasn’t the only solution. Research had shown that there were many components that needed to be addressed to amalgamate LOTE growers into the vegetable industry.

The LOTE project provided information for the many sectors associated with the vegetable industry, including the National Vegetable Industry Communication Strategy, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), in particular the Levy Revenue Service (LRS) and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) through pesticides and chemical use.

Funding for this project was received in conjunction with Hort Innovation (then Horticulture Australia Limited) and Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (RIRDC).

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund