The latest levy-funded magazine for the Australian vegetable industry, Vegetables Australia, is available online.

This bumper edition features the latest in research and development, as well as profiles on vegetable industry members who all have a different story to tell.

In the R&D space, there is a new weapon for growers in the battle against soil-borne diseases. The Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) team has released Soil-borne diseases in vegetable crops: A practical guide to identification and control, and full details can be found in this magazine.

Meanwhile, AUSVEG Engagement and Adoption Coordinator for iMapPESTS Shakira Johnson introduces the latest tool in plant pest surveillance. The first mobile pest surveillance unit, known as a ‘sentinel’, was unveiled in September this year at the Hart Field Day in South Australia.

Nielsen has produced a consumer data update on the Australian lettuce industry, with figures indicating market performance and shopping behaviour provided in this edition. We also catch up with Alice Zaslavsky, who is Project Lead of ‘Phenomenom’, a digital toolkit for Australian teachers that aims to help engage children with vegetables and cultivate their curiosity around fresh food.

Vegetables Australia – Summer 2019/20 features two grower profiles. Young okra grower Kevin Hoang from Marrakai in the Northern Territory introduces himself to the publication, and details what he has learnt since entering the vegetable industry in 2016.

Western Australian grower Paul Glavocich speaks about his growing operation and its challenges, his role on the vegetablesWA Committee of Management and how a benchmarking project has assisted him in recent business decisions.

We also profile 2019 Boomaroo Nurseries Women in Horticulture award winner Carmel Ingram, who looks back on three-decade-plus career to date, while David De Paoli from Austchilli chats about his business’ export journey and how the rest of the industry can learn from its experiences.

This is only a sample of what is in this 72-page extended edition, so if you’re not already receiving Vegetables Australia, you can subscribe to receive future editions of the magazine for free by emailing communications@ausveg.com.au.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 17/12/2019. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!