The 2012 USA Grower Study Tour provided eight vegetable levy payers with the opportunity to participate on a 13-day tour of leading vegetable growing and processing operations in the United States. The tour, which took place from February 6-18, 2012, had a strong focus on exploring emerging mechanisation prospects and included visits to two acclaimed agricultural trade expositions that have a focus on mechanisation and emerging technologies, the World Ag Expo (Tulare) and the regionally-based Colusa Farm Show (Colusa). The level of interest in attending the tour was unprecedented, with a record number of applications received from vegetable levy payers. Participants on the tour hailed from WA, NSW, VIC and QLD and were impressed by the scale and precision of vegetable growing operations within the United States.

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