Hi all welcome to the final edition of Hort Snippets for the year Merry Christmas and enjoy
cheers Rob
Ex-grapegrowers needed for new project South Australia's wine council is inviting grapegrowers who have exited the wine industry to participate in a project that will help other growers who are considering doing the same. The Wine Grape Council of South Australian Wine Grape Council (WGCSA) is running a project, with funding from PIRSA, and is asking grapegrowers who have quit the industry in the past three years to talk about their decision-making process. WGCSA executive officer Peter Hackworth said the council hopes to interview up to 20 people to learn more about what they went through and what has been the result of leaving. WGCSA is asking interested growers to contact the council by the end of this month. The research aims to use the experience of those who have had to stop production to assist growers who are also struggling to survive after eight years of oversupply. "We believe one of the reasons why people hold on longer than they perhaps should is fear of the unknown, worrying what they will do next, will they be able to find a job, how neighbours might react and so forth," Hackworth said. "It's in the interests of everyone that we find new ways to assist people who want to leave to do so." Interviews will be conducted throughout December and research will be ongoing up until vintage 2012. WGCSA is asking grapegrowers who have quit wine grape growing - or who know of someone who has - to please contact Peter Hackworth 0439 182 411 or "a
dmin@wgcsa.com.au Daily wine news 11/11/11 Asia Fruit Logistica - Hong Kong September 2011-12-05 The expansion of the middle class in China and SE Asia is defined by some observers as one of the greatest mobilisations of wealth on record. This growth is what is driving the interest in these markets from most major world exporters. Another encouraging feature of these markets is their comparatively high consumption of vegetables by the consumers they service. The findings are summarised on pages 8-12 and a number of conclusions are drawn and collated on page 4-5, where each conclusion is then extended into implications for vegetable producers and marketers.
The increasing size of the middle class is the growth engine for the region, especially in China. All indications are that this growth will continue as more of the population moves from agriculture, to work and live in urban environments. This means more households with higher available income and more people in housing that is in closer proximity to organised retailing. Some of the indicators that signal this growth include: ·· China's economic transformation since the late 1970s has produced what is now seen as the greatest and most rapid mobilisation of wealth on record. The poverty rate has plunged from 53% in 1981 to just 2.5%, according to World Bank data. ·· The middle class in China is reported to have increased from about 200m to 500m over the last 6 years. ·· The IMF has China's economy growing at 9.5% this year, and a forecasted 9% next year. Forecasts for the region as a whole have been scaled back since the start of the year. Still, developing Asia's expected growth rate of about 8% this year and next year, far exceeds the 1.6% and 1.9% slated for advanced economies. · ·Wages in China are forecast to rise at about 15%-17% in nominal terms. By comparison, the US's annual rate is in the low single digits. China's retail sales grew an enviable 18% in Chinese Yuan last year and almost 15% when measured in US dollars.
The shift in food sales away from wet markets to organised retail (supermarkets) is continuing at an estimated 1-2% market share per year. It is the younger shoppers who prefer to shop in air conditioning and the older lower income shoppers who frequent the wet markets. Indications are that the price sensitive shoppers see the air conditioned stores as being a cue for higher prices compared to the wet market.
Late-mover advantages are being captured by the retailers expanding into these markets as they are able to apply the latest marketing and operating systems that in some instances are actually being back-filled in other developed markets. An example of this is a Thailand based retailer who has more than 80% of customers involved in their loyalty card scheme. This has enabled tailored offers to be put to known consumers of these products with strong success. Before approaching these retailers as a potential supplier, it is important to understand the status of these practices and other retail processes, as they could well be more advanced than retailers in other markets. Food safety is a major issue with consumers and has been elevated by recent incidents, not the least of which involved the highly sensitive issue of problems with of baby food. As is the case in all markets this has left consumer awareness at high levels and in Asia it has resulted in some permanent changes in how parents buy food for their young children. While all of the new supermarkets are required to have food safety systems, this higher awareness provides more scope for exporters to gain acknowledgment for what local consumers may already see as a benefits of imported products. Veginsights 2011
HK Wine Imports Near US$1bn for 2011 03 November 2011 Hong Kong's total wine imports reached US$940m in the first 9 months of this year, according to the secretary for financial services and the treasury [read more]
http://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Markets/HK-wine-imports-near-US-1bn-for-2011 Growers underpaid for produce, say farmers Alexandra Smith, 28 Sep, 2011 08:38 AM THE supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles could be paying farmers as little as 35¢ a kilogram for potatoes and pumpkins and selling them for $3 a kilogram, the latest research from the NSW Farmers Association shows. The association looked at last week's farm-gate prices for a range of produce, including potatoes, sweet corn, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots and apples to highlight how much supermarket chains pay farmers for their fresh produce. Their research revealed that farmers were being paid about 40¢ a kilogram for grey pumpkins, which were then being sold on supermarket shelves for as much as $2.78 a kilogram. It was a similar story for tomatoes and carrots. But Woolworths rejected the farmers' pricing and said they were not a true reflection of what they pay growers. [read more]
http://sl. farmonline. com. au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/political/growers-underpaid-for-produce-say-farmers/2306153. aspx
In the U. S. A: Apples to apples - the season so far Tom Karst, 10/19/2011 Apples to apples, how does this season compare with a year ago? The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently publised the U. S. city average for retail red delicious prices in September. The numbers show that the average retail price for red delicious apples in September was $1.51 per pound, up from $1.26 per pound at the same time last year but down slightly from $1.53 per pound in August. Meanwhile, I see that data from the USDA's National Retail Report is now being made available through the USDA portal, which allows the user to select items from the database to compare. Here is a spreadsheet showing the Oct. 14 retail report for apples. Note that the number of promotions and the weighted average promotion price for red delicious apples are quite similar to year ago levels. Also, I see that the honey crisp apples are being promoted quite aggressively, at a reported average of about $2 per pound in mid-October. [read more]
http://www. thepacker. com/commodity-fruits/apples/Apples-to-apples-the-season-so-far-132142573. html
New grape variety offers taste of county fair Don Schrack, 10/10/2011 Cotton Candy, a new green, seedless grape variety developed over 10 years and patented by Bakersfield, Calif.-based International Food Genetics, is in its first year of trial production. Grapery Inc., a Bakersfield-based grower-shipper, is licensed to market the cotton candy grapes, which have a very distinctive, sweet flavor, said Jim Beagle, chief executive officer and co-owner. "I can tell people it tastes like cotton candy, but once shoppers taste it they really know what I mean," he said. Due to the trial volume, the number of stores offering the cotton candy grapes this season is limited, "but I'm already getting calls from major retailers and dozens of brokers," Beagle said. Maturing early plantings will double the volume for next year, he said. The first full commercial season, however, is scheduled for 2013. For 2012, harvest for cotton candy grapes is projected for August. Severe hail storm takes bite out of Batlow apple crop November 14, 2011 · Matt Paish Australian Food News One of Australia's main apple-growing districts, Batlow in southern New South Wales, has been declared a natural disaster area after a hail storm inflicted severe damage on apple orchards last week, destroying an estimated 60 per cent of next year's Batlow crop. Apples are a major crop in the State of NSW, with most grown in Batlow. They are grown from spring blossom and harvested from late summer through to late autumn (February - May) and an important source of the apples reaching the main markets in Sydney and Melbourne. The peak industry body representing apple and pear growers in Australia, Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) has said it is hard to tell whether the damage will impact apple prices. APAL's managing director, Jon Durham, said the area of damage is at least 60 per cent of the Batlow orchards. However, Victorian apple-growing districts (such as Goulburn Valley, the Harcourt, Gippsland, Yarra Valley and Stanley-Beechworth) could fill this gap. "The [Batlow] storm had a seven kilometre front. It is hard to assess whether this will have an impact on apple prices next year - if growers elsewhere have a very good season then prices could go down still," Mr Durham said. He added that the storm impact comes at a time when growers are facing financial demands to upgrade orchards so they can compete with imported apples, from New Zealand and China. APAL is advocating to the government a package of measures that are designed to assist the industry make adjustments to this new environment where imported apples are part of the market mix. Mr Durham said a key element of this package is to secure each year's crop using environmental covers in all regions to protect against hail damage. Batlow orchardist and APAL Board Director, Greg Mouat, said he has spoken to many growers who told him it was the worst storm they have experienced at this time of the year. He said the extent to which damage to trees has killed the buds for the 2013 crop is being assessed and that the knock-on effects of this storm will be severe and long lasting. Colour coding for potatoes The UK Potato Council has released a new report - Potatoes: A Fresh Outlook - that would introduce colour coding and clear messages to promote potatoes in the major retailers. Based on the findings of a year-long consumer research, the report states that 8 out of 10 shoppers agree that they need more information about the different potato varieties and would welcome clear on-pack information about what potatoes are best used for. Survey revealed that nearly half of shoppers think that baking, new, and white are varieties of potatoes and many link the potato size to its use, such as small for boiling, medium for multipurpose use, and large for baking. Veginsights October 2011-11-17
Season & Steam Microwavable Artichoke Pack by Ocean Mist Farms: The new Season & Steam Microwavable Artichoke bag features two fresh globe artichokes that are cleaned, trimmed, and ready to cook. The innovative packaging gives users the option to open the bag, pre-season the artichokes to their preference, reseal the package, and steam by microwave - all within the same bag. Its launch follows consumer research which revealed that many shoppers viewed the prepping of artichokes as the major barrier to purchase. Veginsights October 2011-11-17
Would you like salad with that? McDonalds offers a healthy alternative at point of sale · November 15, 2011 · Matt Paish McDonald's Australia has boasted its healthier food credentials by announcing that from tomorrow its customers will be asked if they would like salad as an alternative to fries. McDonald's announcement coincides with the start of kilojoule labelling on McDonald's menu boards at point of sale. McDonald's Australia CEO Catriona Noble said that by making the option of salad part of every 'Extra Value Meal', McDonald's is making it "easier for customers to enjoy a serve of fresh vegetables". Ms Noble said, "The move to introduce salads to our menu in 2003 certainly broke some ground and we have continued to change and provide more choice for our customers ever since." The move comes two months after cessation by the National Heart Foundation of its Heart Tick endorsement offered to quick service operators. McDonald's had previously enjoyed the benefit of a Heart Tick endorsement for its healthier meal option. Unlike several other quick service or fast food operators selling meals that purport to contain a "salad" but contain non-salad ingredients, McDonald's said they their salad is a genuine salad that contains seasonal lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a side of dressing. McDonald's said the salad contains approximately 63 kilojoules.
Phylloxera surveys to boost Victorian viticulture Article Date: 11/11/11 The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will begin a second round of vineyard surveys in several areas of Victoria in December. "The areas to be surveyed this year are Ballarat, Macedon Ranges, Sunbury, Broadford, Kilmore, Greater Geelong (including Colac) and a large northern area extending from Cobram to Horsham," Mr King said. "The objective is to add these areas to the existing Western Phylloxera Exclusion Zone (PEZ), which is a major production region for wine, table grapes, dried fruit and the propagation of grapevines." "If this year's survey areas are found to be free of phylloxera, they will qualify to be part of the PEZ." Damien Sheehan, Chairman of the Victorian Viticulture Biosecurity Committee, said the viticulture industry welcomed the prospective benefits of the second round of surveys. "If the survey areas can be included in the Western PEZ, it will enable growers in those areas to move grapevine material and produce into the current PEZs in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales with a reduced regulatory burden," Mr Sheehan said. "This will also strengthen the areas level of biosecurity by regulating the movement of grapevine material and produce into the PEZ from non-PEZ areas. "All in all, expanding the PEZ will provide both economic benefits and a pest-free status for national and international markets." Industry representatives are working with DPI to identify and inform all growers whose vineyards are proposed for survey. Mr King said to verify the survey areas were free of phylloxera, grapevines growing in public places must also be checked, and these can be difficult to locate. "For this reason, we're asking residents to notify DPI of the location of grapevines in public places in these areas," he said. "This includes grapevines growing in parks and gardens, street plantings, public buildings, community halls, bus stops, train stations, transport depots, caravan parks and motels.
Australian vegetable growing farms: an economic survey, 2009-10 This report contains results from the most recent survey of Australian vegetable growers conducted by ABARES between February and August 2011, on behalf of Horticulture Australia Limited. Read Australian vegetable growing farms: an economic survey, 2009-10 on the ABARES website.
Australian wine makes a comeback in the U. S. November 16, 2011 · Matt Paish Australian wine is making a comeback in the U. S. market, according to market intelligence released today by the Australian Government statutory authority Wine Australia. Australia is already the second largest country of origin for imported wines into the U. S., behind France. Wine Australia's market report for September 2011 showed Australian wine sales for the A$15-19.99 segment were up 23 per cent in the US and wine sales in the A$20+ segment were up 4.6 per cent. Wine Australia's Regional Director North America, Angela Slade said, "Australian wine statistics have made headlines on the negative figures, but I feel the most compelling story lies in the pockets of growth and the Australian premium comeback trend that is shaping up before our eyes. We are at the beginning of a new chapter for Australian wine in the U. S." The Wine Australia Export Report for September 2011 shows that Australia is shipping more high-end wines for the second quarter of the 2011/12 financial year. The A$20 to A$50 price segment has seen 60 per cent growth and the over A$50 price segment has seen 21 per cent growth during this period. Wine Australia created the 'Immersion Program' as a grassroots education effort to counter the stereotypes the U. S. trade and media were expressing about the Australian wine category. Wine Australia's Market Development Manager, Mark Davidson said, "Many of the key trade had either forgotten about certain Australian wines or, as was more often the case, simply not been exposed to them. The more restrained and elegant wines are definitely turning some heads but it is the full range of Australian wine styles and crystal clear regional expression that has been most commented on. It is very satisfying to watch the collective light bulbs switch on."
Tighter regulation for Australian seed sprout producers November 16, 2011 · Matt Paish A new primary production and processing standard for seed sprouts has been approved by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Board. FSANZ said the objective of the standard is to reduce the incidence of food-borne illness associated with seed sprouts by introducing food regulatory measures for sprouts processors. Measures in the standard include requirements for producers to identify potential hazards and implement control measures to address those hazards. Sprout producers must also have evidence to show that control measures have been implemented. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, said the states and territories would enforce the standard, which has an 18-month implementation period. He said, "In recent years, outbreaks of food-borne illness both in Australia and overseas have been associated with eating seed sprouts. The cost to the Australian community from outbreaks in 2005 and 2006 has been estimated at A$2.1 million." Mr McCutcheon said the approval had been notified to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council. Once FSANZ has notified the council, the council has 60 days to either ask FSANZ to review the application or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review.
Details of the National and Global Food Security Conference -15 November 2011, Shepparton. The Global Foundation is a citizens' organization with extensive private sector membership, based in Australia. Fully independent of government and funded by its members, The Global Foundation promotes high-level thinking within Australia and cooperation between Australia and the world. It works with government and institutions, the private sector, academia and the community, to help shape longer term solutions to great challenges.
A national public conference, was held in Shepparton on Tuesday 15 November 2011, to address national and global food security, one of the most critical issues of our time. The conference provided a community-wide perspective, and presented an important opportunity to explore Australia's approach to food security; our national and global responsibility as a producer, manufacturer and provider of knowhow, and our opportunities to secure a sustainable future for our farmers and for our economy. The conference, led by the Foundation's National and Global Food Security Co-Chairs, Mr Anthony Pratt and Mr Gerry Lawson, and featuring the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Joe Ludwig, also included an impressive panel of contributors, who were joined by a broad cross-section of the community from national and regional levels including growers, manufacturers, retailers and industry groups, amongst others.
Australian potato glut is one of the biggest in history November 18, 2011 · Matt Paish Potato growers across Australia are threatening to plough surplus potatoes back into the ground or leave them to rot in what is reported to be one of the biggest potato gluts in Australian history. Australian potato grower and Chairman of the Australian Potato Industry Advisory Committee, David Nix, has seen double the tonnage of potatoes on his farm in Atherton, Queensland, compared to last year. Mr Nix told Australian Food News today, "This year has brought a wave of excess potatoes across the whole of Australia. I have never seen a crop like this before. I've heard reports from South Australian growers who have had five to six tonnes per acre above their average crop. They dumped the excess potatoes on the market very cheaply just to get rid of them." Mr Nix said that the glut is due to cold and dry weather which allowed growers more control of irrigation. We have no factories, processing plants here or any way of making use of the excess potatoes.
Taming the weather for wine success By Justin Huntsdale There are a number of reasons why the NSW South Coast isn't a renowned wine region, but one local vigneron is painstakingly and effectively dispelling all of them. Email this Share Growing wine grapes on the South Coast of NSW is a job so consistently difficult, the fact Ben Willis and his family have done it so well is a feat of agricultural brilliance. There's the high rainfall and humidity that causes diseases like downy mildew or botrytis and the concern over enough sunlight hours for growing. There's the effort in training the vines to grow high and wide to encourage the sea breeze to help dry the moisture on the fruit. There's the other setback that fashionable Australian grape styles like shiraz and sauvignon blanc don't suit the local climate. And finally, there's the three week operation that sees Ben cover his entire 10 hectare Shoalhaven Heads vineyard with netting to stop the seasonal raid on his fruit by rainbow lorikeets and flying foxes. The numerous challenges of creating a good and plentiful product have understandably been a set-back to earlier winemakers. But the tourist potential of the region nestled just over an hour south of Wollongong is great, and wine and tourism have had a long and romantic relationship. "What we've been doing is saying we can do great wines down here," Ben said. "We have millions of people nearby and they want to explore and find out about our journey and all these unusual varieties we're growing down here because of their suitability.
It's also an interesting journey that has led his family to grow lesser-known styles like savagnin - a white grape with French origin and grown in north-west Spain, and tannat - a red from the south-west of France. Promoting these varieties is the next step after John Cassegrain pioneered the coastal-loving red grape chamboucin at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast. "We have wonderful challenges with humidity and rainfall over the growing season but if you find the right varieties and grow them in the right conditions they'll repay you for your efforts," Ben said. "We've had to move away from some of the traditional styles." On the business front, the winery has won a swag of awards, particularly for wine produced from a small block of semillon on the Coolangatta property. The medals have helped them kick the image of a boutique accommodation provider with a hobby vineyard, to a serious winery capable of matching semillons in quality with its spiritual home in the Hunter Valley. "A lot of people look at the negative aspect of living on the coast and the problems with humidity and rain, but there's a north-easterly sea breeze that blows all through summer which minimises the moisture build-up." The answer, all along, was blowin' in the wind. Labelling law change: Australian 'sherry' and 'port' forbidden November 30, 2011 · Matt Paish A change to the Wine Australia Corporation Act 1980 means that from now on, 'Sherry' produced in Australia must no longer be called "sherry" but can be called 'Cream, crusted/crusting and solera fortified'; and 'Port' is now called 'Vintage, ruby and tawny fortified'. It is also possible for Australian wine-makers to invent their own descriptor or trademark as another option. The change in law was included in an Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) report released last week, titled 'Shipments of Wine and Brandy in Australia by Australian Winemakers and Importers, September 2011'. The law change was made by amendments to the Wine Australia Corporation Act, which prescribes labelling conditions relating to geographical indications. Australia is a party to a treaty signed during the 1990s implemented by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation under commitments made by Australian and the EU. Geographical indications and national traditional terms of winemaking were originally intended to have been protected by 1997. However, the legislative processes in Australia and in the EU have been proceeding slowly. The word 'sherry' is an anglicisation of Jerez, a municipality in Spain where the white grapes traditionally used to make the drink are grown. 'Port' is a drink defined by its origin in the northern provinces of Portugal, near Porto. Other examples of geographical indications include the term 'Champagne', which famously refers to wine produced exclusively within the Champagne region of France.
Covered tunnel production of berries in Tasmania
7.30 Report on Berries in Tasmania
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-28/berry-delicious/3698974 Citrus growers fight farm gate price plan Citrus growers say displaying farm gate prices in supermarkets would hurt rather than help South Australian growers. Independent Senator Nick Xenophon wants to legislate for the measure, but a Senate committee has found the legislation is flawed and wants it abandoned. Cathy Lowe from Citrus Growers of South Australia says stricter Australian labelling laws are needed. "Of course there's going to be a huge difference between what the farm gate price is and what the consumer sees because there's just so many labour-intensive costs in between," she said. "If the consumer is seeing that 'Oh no, the grower are getting ripped off' they very well might decide we're not going to buy that because the growers are getting ripped off so we'll go elsewhere." Ms Lowe says packing and transport costs add to the price after the fruit leaves the grower. "What we need to do is we need to increase our demand for Australian products, and that's all Australian products, so if we can only look at this labelling issue and truth in labelling and 100 per cent Australian." Source: abc. net. au Publication date: 30/11/2011
U. S. berry company implements RFID To help stem potential losses The firm is deploying an Intelleflex RFID system after piloting the technology at a packing plant in Mexico, as well as at distribution centers in the United States. Following a six-week pilot of RFID temperature sensor tags to track blackberries from Mexican farms through its packing plant in Los Reyes, Mexico, and on to its U. S. distribution centers, an American berry company is now deploying the solution throughout all of its facilities. That deployment, provided by Santa Clara, Ca., visibility solutions company Intelleflex, uses software from Proware Services (a division of Florida-based RFID technology firm Franwell). Intelleflex reports that it will now equip all of the berry company's four Mexican packinghouses and three U. S. DCs with RFID technology, and provide temperature-tracking tags to more than 1,000 growers. This rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
The berry company, which has declined to be interviewed or named for this article, conducted a six-week pilot this past spring, in an effort to improve the quality of product arriving at stores, as well as reduce shrinkage resulting from fruit spoilage. The pilot, conducted on blackberries only (though the full deployment will include multiple berry varieties), allowed the company to track the temperatures within berry-filled containers loaded on pallets from the time the fruit was harvested until it was delivered to the DCs. Based on the results, says Peter Mehring, Intelleflex's CEO, the firm could expect to realize a return on investment within one harvest season (which typically lasts six months). The money-saving benefits include enabling staff members to know when berry temperatures have risen too high, and either to address those high temperatures in real time (such as in the precooling room-a forced-air refrigeration system-at the packing facility), or to route crates according to the temperatures to which the fruit had been exposed and, consequently, according to its remaining shelf life. In so doing, the berry grower will be able to reduce the likelihood that it would need to discard fruit before it could be sold or distributed.
Clyne Foods collapses after shocking harvest Receivers have been appointed to Victorian dried fruit company Clyne Foods, whose customers included the major Australian supermarkets, with the company saying droughts and flood had sliced its volumes. Clyne Foods has a dried fruit processing facility in the Victorian town of Warracknabeal with receival and grading handled in Mildura, and had average annual revenue of $14 million through 2010 and 2011. Receiver PPB has said that Clyne Foods also reported trading profits. Clyne managing director Norm Clyne has told the Weekly Times: "We came off two droughts and last season where we had low receivals and the floods were disastrous. Last year we only received 30-35% of normal (volumes)."
Clyne Foods held around 30% of the domestic market and 25% of the export market, and supported more than 200 growers through Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. Its motto is "100% Australian owned 100% Australian fruit".
John Hawtin, industry development officer at industry body Dried Fruits Australia, says the collapse leaves just two dried fruit processors, Australian Premium Dried Fruits and Sunbeam Foods, both from Mildura. For the growers waiting to see how they'll get paid, it's "disastrous", he says. Hawtin says the industry was whacked by five years of drought and a heavy deluge in February - leaving tonnage down, lower grades and disease. "It was probably the lowest tonnage the industry had received," Hawtin says. Source: smartcompany. com. au Publication date: 11/25/2011
Almond processing factory for Mildura November 25, 2011 A NEW $60 million almond processing factory in Mildura will create 90 jobs. Olam Australia is set to construction one of the world's largest plants in the north-west town, the Victorian Government announced today. Victorian manufacturing minister, exports and trade Richard Dalla-Riva said the project would create 90 direct jobs and generate downstream employment related to construction, packaging, waste recycling, transport, storage and logistics. "It will also result in more than $100 million worth of exports in 2012 to around $150 million in 2015," he said. The plant will be able to process 40,000 tonnes of almond kernels annually. Mr Dalla-Riva said the government had provided support to the company through its $10 million Business Flood Recovery Fund.
Chinese company Bright Food to increase Australian presence True to its word in early September that it would quickly dominate the Australian market, Chinese company Bright Food has announced plans to open an office in Sydney. Bright Food is the second largest food company in China, and following its acquisition of 75 per cent of Australia's leading independent grocery importer Manassen Foods Australia, it wants to become a global leader in the sector. Manassen Foods includes the Margaret River Dairy Company, Sunbeam Foods, Chrystal Fresh, Angas Park and Don Vica. Bright has confirmed its interest in entering other Australian markets including wine dairy, sugar and health supplements, the Australian Financial Review reports. Bright's Ge Junjie spoke told the Financial Review ahead of the first board meeting at Manassen since the acquisition that the cinoaby wants to use Manassen as vehicle to import more products into Australia. It's part of the company's plans to make Australia a main focus. "I extend an invitation to other companies who are interested in accessing the Chinese market by going through Manassen," he said. "Bright can offer these companies access. "Part of Bright's key focus following the Manassen deal will be Australia, especially the great wine sector. "We are very interested." The company's office will be located in Macquarie Place, Sydney. Almond harvest promising Sarah Scopelianos December 5, 2011 UPDATE: SELECT Harvests is forecasting a 75 per cent rise in its 2012 almond crop due to operating more orchards and good yields. The company's chief executive John Bird today said good blossom and growing conditions were boosting the company's forecasts. "Based on our initial crop estimates the 2012 crop for our company orchards will be approximately 75 per cent above the 2011 crop, assuming normal conditions leading up to and during harvesting," Mr Bird said. "Increased volumes are being driven by orchard acquisitions, consistent with our strategy to expand our company orchards, as well as from the increased maturity profile of our orchard portfolio and improved yields." He said India and China's demand for almonds was keeping the price firmer.
The company's statement said Australia was on track to become the second largest producer of almonds by 2015. About 70 per cent of Australian almonds are exported to overseas markets including India, China, the Middle East and Europe.
"With increased crop potential, strong fundamentals and a lower Australian dollar Select Harvests can look forward to 2012 with a fair degree of optimism."
InnoVeg has recently produced Handy Hints for Vegetable Growers: a resources guide. This brochure summarises useful resources for vegetable growers in the following areas: Production Management Resource Management, and Business Management. The resources include fact sheets, booklets, user guides and online programs. To access the guide, please
http://ausveg.businesscatalyst.com/rnd/handyhints.htm The guide is also available in hard copy and will be posted out with the Vegetables Australia magazine in January 2012.
Greengrocers going online 28/11/11 Onfood. com Fruit and vegetable retailers have been given a boost to their online potential with an alliance formed between Sydney Markets Wholesalers and an exchange website. The move aims to help greengrocers establish or boost their online presence with their customers via a platform added to the Australian version of the SOC Exchange marketplace. The US originated website calls itself "a unique online space where costs are fixed and users can achieve great savings, while keeping their profits". Rather than charging sellers by item, the site charges them a flat fee of $10 a year to list on the site. Those associated with Sydney Markets will be able to set up their own web store; publish and email their weekly specials or offers; provide online ordering and shopping; publish blogs, recipes, messages and reviews; as well as provide a free search listing. The Harris Farm Fruit Market in Edgecliff has piloted the development of the online platform, creating a SOC Exchange website to communicate with their existing and new customers to promote their special offers and promotions."We believe that the new online platform will enable local greengrocers to maintain market share, by offering superior service and fresh produce direct from the Sydney Markets," says John Durst, GM of the NSW Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries."With the SOC Exchange platform customers will save money on their fruit and vegetable bills by receiving fast and relevant information, while local greengrocers can reduce their promotional and operational costs while building a closer relationship with their customers.
"Independent greengrocers no longer need the big dollar budgets in-order to be competitive, they can now personally connect with their customers by instantly displaying and emailing their product specials, with the ability to provide an online shopping experience and the display of their stock items and prices," says Franco Lagudi, founder of SOC Exchange. Riverina Citrus future bleak Tom Bicknell Fruitnet. com, 29 November 2011 The break-up of Australian industry body Riverina Citrus will go to a government-run poll of its members. The future of embattled Australian industry body Riverina Citrus will be put to an official poll of members, following an initial vote by growers last week to disband the organisation. The group, which represents citrus growers in Australia's Riverina region in New South Wales (NSW), will be subject to a poll of members run by the Australian Electoral Commission on behalf of NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson. full audit of the Riverina Citrus board's actions will also be carried out. Following on from the sudden resignation of Riverina Citrus CEO Dom Testoni two weeks ago - reportedly over a dispute with the board - a poll of around 200 growers conducted at a meeting last week saw a 73 per cent vote in favour of dissolving the industry body. While the motion did not represent a large enough proportion of Riverina Citrus members to carry the motion, it was enough to require the official poll, which will need to survey at least 51 per cent of its 432 members to be valid, according to a report in the Weekly Times. The backlash against Riverina Citrus has apparently come as a surprise to the industry body. The organisation's chairman Frank Battistel told Asiafruit Magazine two weeks ago he did not know of any problems prior to a petition submitted prior to the vote. "As a committee we were unaware of any grievances out there, so it came as a bit of a shock," he said. That contradicts comments from growers, who say they had raised their concerns with the board on numerous occasions. Organic farming grows in China/Australia Rob Hay, Fruitnet. com, 24 June 2010 Interest in organic farming is booming in both China and Australia as consumer awareness of the product increases. The demand for organic produce is surging in China, despite the higher prices, as consumers pay closer attention to how their food is produced, AFP reported. China's food industry has suffered numerous safety scares in recent years, and in 2008 at least six babies died and 300,000 others became ill when the industrial chemical melamine was used in dairy products. This year alone there has been several well-publicised incidents involving tainted chives, beans and pears. The organic market in the country is estimated to be worth around Yn5bn (US$732m) and demand is expected to increase by 20-30 percent a year over the next five years, according to Huang Dejun, a chief analyst with Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultants."The Chinese economy has been growing by double digits. People are getting affluent and they are demanding a better quality of life," Mr Huang said. However, analysts believe organic food will remain a niche product in China because of limited supply, with good growing conditions hard to find in the heavily populated and industrialised nation. Meanwhile, organic farming is also booming in Australia, with research group IBISWorld predicting the sector will grow by around 15.1 per cent in the next year to be the fastest growing industry in the country. "Big business is jumping aboard the organic farming bandwagon," IBISWorld general manager Robert Bryant told the Sydney Morning Herald, citing the launch of Australian supermarket chain Coles' own organic brand. The group predicts the industry's revenue will grow to almost A$0.45bn in the next twelve months. Australian apple eyes overseas Tom Bicknell Fruitnet. com, 29 November 2011 Asiafruit Magazine speaks to Apple & Pear Australia Ltd's Cassia Ferguson about the industry's new export focus. You've recently joined Apple & Pear Australia Ltd (APAL); could you give me an overview of your role? CF: My role is Market Development Manager, and this covers both domestic and export. I will work with industry to bring awareness to where marketing dollars are being invested such as the Aussie Apple sticker initiative and to develop export. Is this a new role that's just been created? What does that signify about APAL's focus on exports? CF: Yes, APAL created the role in light of imports coming in from China, then New Zealand, and US apples are knocking on the door as well. With the potential for our domestic market to become highly competitive, we see a need to focus on developing export opportunities. It's a big change for the Australian apple industry. The numbers indicate we export less than 1.4 per cent of our apple crop (3,800 tonnes exported) and 4.4 per cent of our pear crop (5,700 tonnes exported), so export has excellent growth potential. Where do you see opportunities for Australian apples on the international stage? CF: We need access for Australian apples and pears into China and a number of other north Asian countries. It's a little bit difficult with our dollar, and you have to place exports in the right window. Each market needs to be thoroughly analysed. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is working on a project which is going to investigate Asian markets and assist in identifying our key markets. Does Australia need to focus on premium offerings and varieties like Pink Lady? CF: Most other apple varieties are traded as commodities, so Pink Lady is something we can take a strategic approach to, and figure out our niche. When we start any kind of trade, the leader will be Pink Lady, and if that country wants other varieties we can look at them too. APAL owns the Pink Lady brand, so we can manage the promotion of that, but we'd have to work internationally with other suppliers. Notice:
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