AUSVEG Weekly Update – 27 June 2017

Vegetable feature article

Asia Fruit Logistica – applications closing next Friday!

Exporting vegetable growers are invited to apply to attend the premier fresh produce tradeshow in Asia. Asia Fruit Logistica will be held from 6 – 8 September 2017 at the Asia-World Expo convention facility in Hong Kong, with anticipated travel dates for participants being 3 – 9 September. Applications must be submitted to AUSVEG by 5:00pm on Friday 7 July 2017 (AEST).

AUSVEG has a limited number of funded positions available for levy-paying vegetable growers to exhibit at the 2017 Asia Fruit Logistica – if you are interested in exhibiting and being part of the AUSVEG delegation for this world-class trade event, please contact AUSVEG on 03 9882 0277 to discuss the options available.

To download the application form, please click here. Applications can be submitted via email to export@ausveg.com.au.

VG16061 is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Potato feature article

Potato processors reflect on the latest season

In the latest edition of Potatoes Australia magazine, the Potato Processors Association of Australia talks with its processors about the past season and the outlook for the next, as well as the tomato-potato psyllid incursion.

Frank Mulcahy from Simplot provides an update on the Tasmanian potato season, including the impact of extended low-pressure systems over the summer, and Josh Opas from McCain Foods discusses the lasting impact of last year’s wet spring on Victorian growers. On the crisping side, Michael Hicks from Snackbrands talks about South Australia’s good growing season, and finally, Brett Pemberton from Pepsico talks about Queensland growers’ recovery following Cyclone Debbie.

The article also features a discussion about the potential impact of tomato-potato psyllid if it arrives in the eastern states, and is available on page 30 of the latest edition of Potatoes Australia magazine. To read this edition, please click here.

Potatoes Australia is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the fresh potato research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Upcoming VegPRO events

Negotiations and influencing course – Melbourne, VIC

This fast-paced, intensive two-day negotiation training aims to enhance participants’ negotiation and influencing capabilities. It includes insights into human behaviour and the frameworks, tools and techniques that will allow participants to best achieve their objectives, including:

understanding what drives the negotiating parties;
knowing how to adapt negotiating styles; and
identifying and employing tactics and counter-tactics.

This workshop is for levy-paying growers or those who work with levy-paying vegetable growers.

Date/time: Tuesday 25 July and Wednesday 26 July, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Location: Cliftons Melbourne, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

For more information or to register for the event, please click here or email sophiel@rmcg.com.au.

Developing valued, visible vegetable products – Clayton, VIC
Have you got a ready supply of vegetables and wonder how you can make more profit from them? Maybe you want to know how to process kohlrabi to make a product as sexy as cauliflower rice? Well, this is a workshop that may have the answers for you:

Date/time: Friday 4 August, 8:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Food Innovation Centre, Monash University Clayton Campus, Level 2 (217) Green Futures Building, 13 Rainforest Walk, Clayton VIC

Speakers at the workshop will include Dr Hazel MacTavish-West (MacTavish West P/L), Dr Angeline Achariya (Food Innovation Centre, Monash University), Susie White (The Ideas Catalyst), and other industry experts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the Food Innovation Centre, including the Virtual Supermarket Theatre and the 3D Prototyping Packaging Design Centre.

This workshop is free to Australian levy-paying vegetable growers only, but others may attend for a fee. To register, please click here, or email sophiel@rmcg.com.au or hazel@mactavishwest.com.au. You can also click here to view the event flyer.

VegPRO is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Riverina Vegetable Innovation Field Day

VegNET will run a vegetable innovation field day in Yoogali (via Griffith) to showcase the latest innovations in vegetable production and provide growers with the chance to hear from experts in the field.

The innovation day will include demonstrations of the RIPPA robot in the field and discussions of the use of drones in irrigated vegetable production, solar power technologies, and growing vegetable businesses through VegNET. There will also be free glovebox guides on managing pest and disease disorders.

Presenters on the day will include Salah Sukkarieh (University of Sydney, Australian Centre for Field Robotics), Dr John Hornbuckle (Deakin University), John Cochrane (Glynncorp Electrical) and Matthew Plunkett (Local Land Services).

Date/time: Wednesday 19 July, 10:00am – 2:30pm
Location: Troy & Jennifer Millard’s Farm – 86B Hawkins Road, Yoogali (via Griffith) NSW

For further information, please click here, or contact Matthew Plunkett on 0428 978 390 or at veg.network@lls.nsw.gov.au. You can also click here to view the event flyer.

VegNET is delivered in New South Wales by Local Land Services via funding by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

New R&D reports available on InfoVeg

InfoVeg is a comprehensive database that has been designed to bridge the gap between researchers and growers. It acts as a resource for growers to easily access technical information and research funded by the research and development national vegetable and potato levies.

The following reports have been published recently on the InfoVeg database:

VG13111 – Manipulation of regulatory microRNAs to suppress insecticide resistance in diamondback moth
VG15060 – Vegetable snacking options market research (stage 2)
VG12078 & VG14060 – Consumer and market program for the vegetable industry

Please click here to access the InfoVeg database.

The InfoVeg database is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable and potato research and development levies and funds from the Australian Government.

AUSVEG VIC Executive Officer resigns

AUSVEG VIC Executive Officer Kurt Hermann has resigned from the organisation following a successful tenure that saw him lead the transition of the Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria rebranding to AUSVEG VIC in November 2015.

Kurt was heavily involved in the industry during his time at AUSVEG and AUSVEG VIC, including serving as Design Team Coordinator and Assistant Manager for Industry Development before serving as AUSVEG VIC Executive Officer.

AUSVEG would like to thank Kurt for his time spent representing the Victorian vegetable and potato industries, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Queries relating to AUSVEG VIC can be directed to Tom Cohen, who will be serving as Acting AUSVEG VIC State Manager until a full-time replacement is appointed. Tom can be contacted on 0437 037 613 or at tom.cohen@ausveg.com.au.

Economic Confidence Survey

The latest results from the industry-funded grower confidence survey have been collected from vegetable growers around the country. A summary of the results is below.

1. Business and Prices
While most growers who responded to the survey indicated that their business was worse off financially than last year (59 per cent), there was an optimistic outlook for a majority of growers that their business would be better off in the next 12 months (59 per cent). This optimistic outlook was in spite of the fact that prices received for produce in the last year were lower than expected (54 per cent) and the belief that growers would receive lower prices for their produce in the next 12 months (63 per cent).

2. Investment
The survey indicated that while a slight majority of growers predicted the next 12 months were not a good time to invest in their business (54 per cent), more than 70 per cent were expected to invest in productivity enhancing equipment.

3. Export
Export was identified as an option to benefit growers’ businesses, with over 70 per cent of surveyed growers indicating that it would be a potential avenue for increased profitability.

4. Labour
Labour was a significant issue for the majority of grower respondents, with 63 per cent finding it difficult to source suitable labour for their business, 61 per cent expecting it to be difficult to find suitable labour in the next 12 months and 59 per cent expecting to have a smaller workforce in the next 12 months than in previous years.

Following this survey AUSVEG will be liaising with relevant members in the vegetable industry to help provide more information about economic issues that affect growers – the results from this survey will help guide our search to ensure growers are receiving the most relevant information that can help them in their businesses. The survey for the June 2017 quarter will be published soon and we encourage as many growers as possible to fill out the survey.

Economic activities in the vegetable industry are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the national vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Amazon bid for retailer Whole Foods

Amazon is one of the largest online retailers in the world and this week they have surprised many with a bid to purchase the 360-store retailer Whole Foods. This would take them into conventional bricks-and-mortar retail stores, and away from the online and home delivery model they have followed to date.

The move has been assessed as a stronger commitment to a food and grocery offer, showing they are prepared to invest in retail stores and existing supply chains to enable that expansion. Amazon’s UK operation reflects similar moves with a supply arrangement with Morrisons supermarkets enabling the rapid expansion of the Amazon Fresh offer to greater London. Whole Foods operate retail stores in the US and UK, but not in Australia.

Amazon already distribute goods to many Australian households, but in late 2017 they are scheduled to open warehousing operations in Australia. This capacity will shorten delivery times and mean they have the capacity to offer and deliver food locally.

These expansions reflect the increasing level of competition in the retail distribution of fresh food to Australian households. As such, this can only mean more options for Australian vegetable growers to get their product to consumers.

Economic activities in the vegetable industry are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government. This article was provided to AUSVEG by Freshlogic.

Fair Work Ombudsman launches supply chain guides

The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched tools to help prevent the exploitation of workers in contracted labour supply chains, including workers in agriculture and horticulture.

Accessible on the Fair Work website, the new resources are:

Guide to labour contracting: for help on how to select a potential contractor and identify if they are complying with workplace laws
Guide to monitoring your labour contracting: for help on mapping existing contractors and subcontractors, examining compliance and addressing any problems
Guide to self-auditing your business: for information on how to conduct a general self-audit of your business to ensure you’re complying with workplace laws
Guide to monitoring your labour contracting for small business: checks for small business owners to minimise your risk of hiring a non-compliant contractor

AUSVEG encourages all growers and other industry members who use labour contractors to review these practical guides, and the other information available on the Fair Work website, to ensure they are fulfilling their responsibilities and to be certain that their contractors are doing the right thing.

Expressions of interest closing tomorrow for vegetable industry leadership and development missions

Expressions of Interest are open for Industry Leadership and Development Missions for the vegetable industry! Expressions of interest must be provided by COB Wednesday 28 June.

2017 Women’s Industry Leadership and Development Mission
4 – 18 September 2017
Travelling to Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, visit some of the world’s most innovative vegetable growing regions in Asia, as well as Asia Fruit Logistica, the region’s leading trade show for the fresh produce industry!

Only $2,500 for growers (incl. GST). Cost includes air and land travel, single room accommodation and most meals.
Itinerary and dates subject to change. Participation on this mission is only open to vegetable levy-paying growers.

To view the flyer for this tour, please click here.

Please contact AUSVEG for an expression of interest or to request a copy of the itinerary:
Email: info@ausveg.com.au
Phone: 03 9882 0277

2017 Young Grower Industry Leadership and Development Mission
1 – 13 October 2017
Visit some of the leading vegetable growing operations and agribusinesses in Europe, including in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium!

To view the flyer for this tour, please click here.

Please contact AUSVEG for an expression of interest or to request a copy of the itinerary:
Email: info@ausveg.com.au
Phone: 03 9882 0277

The 2017 Young Grower and 2017 Women’s Industry Leadership and Development Missions are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy, voluntary contributions from Australian vegetable growing businesses and funds from the Australian Government.

Collaborative Marketing – A Growing Leaders project

The Growing Leaders program of 2017 engages 18 developing leaders from throughout different components of the Australian vegetable industry. As part of the program, the group is working on a series of projects they believe in, based on a broader vision and mission for the industry.

One project, Collaborative Marketing – a proof of concept, is investigating the support for (and methods by which) the industry may benefit from a collaborative marketing effort. The project has developed a survey for vegetable growers, in order to capture a snapshot of information that can be used to inform the industry as to how to proceed. Click here to take the survey and help this investigation.

The project will result in a report for the vegetable industry’s research and development corporation Hort Innovation and peak industry body AUSVEG. For more information on the project, please contact the participants working on this project: Alex Russell, Chris Friars, Katie Tierny and Andy Shaw.

Growing Leaders for the vegetable industry is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Post-harvest management of vegetables workshop

Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers is organising a workshop to help growers, packing shed managers, QA officers and vegetable supply chain business representatives optimise their handling and storage of fresh vegetables to help them maximise quality and minimise produce losses through postharvest management.

Date: Wednesday 16 August 2017
Location: Charlie Triggs Drive, Thabeban QLD 4670

For emore information, please click here, or contact Michelle Haase on 0427 716 218 or via email at bfvg.info@bfvg.com.au.

New Nielsen reports available

Horticulture Innovation Australia has engaged Nielsen to carry out consumer research to allow the Australian vegetable industry to better understand the shopping habits of Australians. The results of the commodity-specific data collected aim to assist growers to better understand consumer preferences and deliver products that best meet consumers’ needs.

Nielsen Homescan electronically records 10,000 demographically and geographically representative Australian households’ purchases of all take-home grocery goods (fresh and packaged).

A fresh batch of reports using this data is now available for levy-paying vegetable growers! Specific commodity information is available for a number of vegetables, including Asian vegetables, beans, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, fresh salad, lettuce, pumpkin, sweet corn, sweetpotato, and zucchini.

Key highlights from these reports include:

The previous trend of sweetpotato attracting new household buyers has cooled. In this reporting round, total buyers have plateaued but value still continues to grow, driven by existing buyers who are buying more often, picking up more kilograms and spending more.
Pumpkin has shown volume growth and value decline in the past 12 months due to cheaper prices. In the latest quarter, this trend has been reversed, and households are spending more at lesser quantities. If this trend continues, we can expect the 12-months value to be back in growth.

Growers interested in these reports can contact AUSVEG by e-mail at info@ausveg.com.au.

Nielsen Homescan data for the vegetable industry is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Dr Jo Luck appointed director of Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative

Dr Jo Luck, a renowned Australian scientist with more than 25 years’ experience in plant disease, biosecurity and microbiology, has been appointed the director of the national Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI). Dr Luck will lead the development and delivery of plant biosecurity research for PBRI – a new partnership between seven plant Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).

Dr Luck will be charged with helping unite biosecurity research efforts across the plant RDCs, stamping out any repetition in funding and making recommendations for new investment in consultation with producers and other stakeholders. She will also work with key biosecurity stakeholders to identify research area priorities, engage funding partners and keep government and other stakeholders informed of activities.

For more information on Dr Luck’s appointment, please click here to read Hort Innovation’s media release. For more information on the PBRI, please click here.

Tomato-potato psyllid resources

Resources from Agriculture Victoria

Agriculture Victoria has released a number of resources to provide Victorian growers with the latest information on tomato-potato psyllid (TPP). These resources include a TPP fact sheet, a document of frequently asked questions, as well as two trade restriction updates, a changed restrictions update, and a strawberry trade restrictions update.

Agriculture Victoria has also provided contact details for Lavinia Zirnsak, State-wide Specialist – Exotic Plant Pest Diseases at Agriculture Victoria. Enquiries about TPP and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum can be directed straight to Lavinia, ensuring growers have direct access to an industry member to provide them with up-to-date information and answers to questions.

Lavinia Zirnsak: State-wide Specialist – Exotic Plant Pest Diseases
Address: 475 Mickleham Road, Attwood VIC 3049
Phone: 03 9217 4490
Mobile: 0427 824 076
Email: lavinia.zirnsak@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

Tomato-potato psyllid trapping guide – Vietnamese edition

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Western Australia (DAFWA) has released a Vietnamese edition of their tomato-potato psyllid (TPP) trapping guide. The information sheet gives growers instruction on how to effectively trap TPP and how to return the traps to DAFWA for identification once they contain insects.

The Vietnamese edition of the guide can be downloaded here. The English edition of the guide can be downloaded here. For more information on TPP, please see the DAFWA website.

Preparing your business for the new Horticulture Code of Conduct

On 1 April 2017, the new Horticulture Code of Conduct came into effect. The Code replaces the old mandatory Horticulture Code and is regulated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

If you trade in horticulture produce, you must comply with the terms of the new Code. AUSVEG strongly urges Australian growers and packers to familiarise themselves with their requirements under the new Code. The ACCC has prepared sample HPAs for growers and packhouses to use online.

You can find more information about the new Code on the ACCC’s website, or by contacting the ACCC.

ACCC Infocentre: 1300 302 502
Small business help line: 1300 302 021

55th Australian Export Awards – Applications now open

Is it time your business is recognised for its export success?
The Australian Export Awards (AEA) is a national program that honours Australian businesses for their export achievements and contribution to Australia’s economic prosperity.

Enter for a chance to:

Boost your profile and reputation among local and international customers.
Distinguish yourself from your competitors as a state or national winner.
Improve staff morale with public recognition of their contributions to the business’s success.
Network with other exporters and learn from companies that are more advanced in their export journey.
Increase your profile with the Australian Government and the relevant state/territory government.
Attend a masterclass hosted by business experts and top exporters.
Critically review your business during the application process and uncover ways to improve export strategies and operations.
Gain media exposure for your achievements.

Co-presented by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the AEA honours the hard work, commitment and innovation of Australian businesses that deliver world-class business capabilities, products and services.

Enter the AEA through your state or territory’s export awards program. Entry is free and the application process is straightforward.

You can apply in 12 national award categories. State and territory winners will automatically progress as national finalists in their category. The Australian Exporter of the Year will be selected from the national category winners.

Visit exportawards.gov.au for more information and to apply.

Current project opportunities with Hort Innovation

Hort Innovation advertises opportunities to become a delivery partner on research, development and marketing projects for Australian horticulture on its website and on tenders.net.

Join Hort Innovation’s delivery partner mailing list to receive email notifications of new opportunities by registering through its delivery partner registration form.

The relevant documentation for each opportunity is available on tenders.net. To access this information, you will need to become a member by registering on the tenders.net registration page.

Please find below a table of current project opportunities directly relevant to the Australian vegetable and potato industries. For more details on any of the projects, or for information on other project opportunities across horticulture, please visit tenders.net.

Type	Title	Closing date
Request for proposal	New and innovative ways to boost vegetable awareness in schools	5pm (Sydney time) Friday 30 June 2017
Request for proposal	Consumer data roadshow – part 4: consumer insights program	5pm (Sydney time) Friday 30 June 2017
Request for proposal	Export facilitators	5pm (Sydney time) Tuesday 11 July 2017
Request for proposal	Area wide management of vegetable diseases: viruses and bacteria	4pm (Sydney time) Tuesday 18 July 2017
Request for proposal	Australia Fresh Collaborative Market Development Program	5pm (Sydney time) Friday 26 April 2019
Request for proposal	Asian market intelligence & data insights	5pm (Sydney time) Tuesday 30 July 2019

Communication of levy-funded R&D is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable and potato research and development levies and funds from the Australian Government.

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG CEO James Whiteside appeared in print media this week commenting on Australia’s agriculture chemical recall process. Mr Whiteside said that while government authorities have a role to play in publicising recalls and ensuring growers are aware of any action that they need to take, responsibility must ultimately lie with industry and the chemical companies undertaking recalls.

AUSVEG VIC Acting State Manager Tom Cohen appeared on radio this week commenting on a new grant from Sustainability Victoria which will enable AUSVEG VIC and KMH Environmental (KMH/pitt&sherry) to build the knowledge and skills capacity of Victorian vegetable growers. Mr Cohen said the program will allow small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to identify and implement long-term cost-effective and beneficial energy efficiency improvements for their operations.