Australia
March 21, 2014

Vegetable growers from Cranbourne and surrounds will have the chance to give feedback on industry direction at a free Levy Payers’ Meeting on Monday 24 March, which in previous years has served as a major catalyst for industry development.

The meeting will take place in Cranbourne at the Amstel Golf Club as part of a nationwide Regional Roadshow by AUSVEG and Horticulture Australia Limited.

“At the 2013 Levy Payer Meeting in Cranbourne, growers identified Summer Root Rot in parsley as being a major regional concern. As a result of this feedback, AUSVEG and HAL organised for a scoping study into the disease, which was published in July 2013, and is now being used as a tool to assist growers face the issue,” said AUSVEG spokesperson, Hugh Gurney.

“When projects such as these are initiated through the direct feedback of growers, it demonstrates the efficiency and effectiveness of the levy system. It is for this reason that AUSVEG and HAL run the Levy Payers’ Meetings and provide a forum for the concerns of vegetable growers,” said Mr Gurney.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

Root Rot disease can effect up to 90 per cent of a parsley crop. In carrying out the scoping study, numerous growers were consulted and a comprehensive review of previous research was compiled. The results of the study were published by HAL in July 2013, and communicated to the greater industry through the AUSVEG publication Vegenotes 39.

This year, as well as the opportunity to provide feedback, growers will also receive presentations from Mr Bill James from TradeStart, who will provide an overview on potential export opportunities for Victorian growers, and Dr Doris Blaesing from RM Consulting Group, who will provide in-depth analysis into plant health and benchmarking tools for vegetable growers.

“As well as providing a forum for industry update and feedback, these Levy Payers’ Meetings give vegetable growers the opportunity to hear about horticultural prospects and concerns from a range of industry experts,” said Mr Gurney.

Meeting details:

Cranbourne
Monday 24 March, 2:30pm – 6:30pm.
Amstel Golf Club, 1000 Cranbourne-Frankston Rd, Cranbourne VIC 3977.

Those interested in attending should contact AUSVEG on (03) 9882 0277 or e-mail info@ausveg.com.au. Food and refreshments will be provided free to all vegetable levy payers.

This communication is funded by HAL using the National Vegetable Levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.
 

Website: http://www.ausveg.com.au

Published: March 21, 2014