Fresh Source Autumn 2020

Autumn 2020 Issue

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DAM troubles

hit Bundaberg

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COVID-19 update

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YEARS IN THE MARKETS

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The magazine of

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CEO comment Welcome to the first edition of Fresh Source for 2020.

fresh produce can continue is just one example of this (Page 37).

Drought, fire, rain, pestilence: we truly have seen it all over the past few months.

But beyond the devastation and feelings of despair there was, for a brief period, an increasing sense of optimism in horticulture before a global pandemic brought a new invisible threat to the fore.

This does offer the industry hope, and I would like to highlight and thank the coordinating role and leadership being given by the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, and the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner.

As the threat of COVID-19 looms large over the nation as a whole, good hygiene, social distancing and healthy eating has never been more important.

At Brisbane Markets , we have moved to reduce the risk while ensuring our main priority remains the facilitation of the trade and supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to Queensland consumers.

This has involved the temporary suspension of the Brisbane Night Market, Sunday Discovery Market and public entry to the Brisbane Produce Market. Our Saturday Fresh Market is currently continuing to trade (Page 15). ®

We have also cancelled this year’s Brisbane Produce Market annual gala dinner and we are working with tenants to ensure good hygiene and social distancing are employed at all Brisbane Markets® businesses. We encourage everyone to follow the health directives of the Federal Government as the COVID-19 situation unfolds (Pages 6 and 7).

COVID-19 While it has taken some time for the community to understand the magnitude of the threat of COVID-19, the message has now hit home. There can be no more sobering a message than to see the impact of the virus in a number of European countries where hospitals are beyond capacity.

The fresh produce supply chains remain an essential service, along with all other supply chains supporting the production, warehousing and distribution of food, and it is receiving significant attention by the state and federal governments.

The recent federal government announcement of $110 million in funding to ensure Australia’s export of

Furthermore, I would like to thank the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and other government departments including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police Service and QLD Health for the work they are doing to support the fresh food industries.

I cannot stress enough that it is critical for everyone to act with urgency in heeding the messages of how to contain the spread of the virus. These include: • adopting the hygiene measures such as regular hand washing and cleaning of high touch areas; • complying with all government and health department directives; • ensuring social distancing by keeping 1.5 metres away from other people and staying at home where possible; and • seeking medical advice if you or a close contact have symptoms of the virus.

As we all look forward to what is very likely to be a very difficult and challenging six months ahead, I would highlight and pay my highest respects to the health care workers who will stand in the front line, protecting us against the virus.

Rain brings renewal Even though the big dry has not broken, it is good to see rains over January and February have lifted the spirits of growers in drought-stricken areas (page 8). Hopefully, the rain will continue to herald better times to come.

Consumers seem to be more understanding of the effects of growing seasons, weather conditions and natural disasters on fresh produce. Whether they

are buying smaller produce or overlooking physical blemishes, they are beginning to understand produce doesn’t have to look beautiful to taste delicious.

Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) has been championing the message that the best way to support our rural and regional communities is to buy their products. Whether it is through tourism, supporting local independent retailers, or eating Australian produce: the best thing you can do is buy from the bush.

My message to growers is that you have our on-going support which, along with your proven resilience, will see you through this challenging period.

Markets milestone There is something about working at the Markets. You either give up quickly or you stick around for decades. As we head into the 2020s many in our Market community are reaching their 50-year milestone. In this edition we have a special Fresh Perspectives (page 22) that looks at how Brisbane Markets® has changed over the past 50 years.

This is only a brief snapshot of the Markets’ history since they moved to the Rocklea site. If you know someone who has worked at Brisbane Markets® since the 1960s, please let us know so that we can recognise them accordingly.

I pay tribute to the years of service and contributions made by Steph, Gary, Tony, Ted and Peter. I also highlight the leadership and service Gary and Tony have contributed to the Markets over many years in their roles as Chairmen and directors of BML and Brismark.

While it may not be business as usual at the moment, it is our priority to ensure Queenslanders have access to locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.

Andrew Young, Chief Executive Officer, BML and Brismark Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE

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Contents 6 Fresh Updates 6 8 8 8 9 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 14

Queenslanders’ access to fruit and veg top priority amid coronavirus crisis Apple production marks fire recovery efforts Rain brings hope for growing regions McKenzie ousted No closer to a Paradise solution Panama raises its ugly head Banana waste packed with potential North spices up Damaging pest found on Australian shores Map aids rapid response to fires Cricket legends mentor sporting youngsters in Bundaberg Food recall platform launched Fruitful visit for Japanese trainees Calls for domestic regulation of ‘organic’ claims Strawberries a family affair in SEQ

15 Fresh Markets 15 Some retail markets suspended, fresh produce supply continues 15 Half-year results announced 16 Watermelon traceability from gate to plate 16 Choosing the right forklift for your market business 17 Take care with custard apples 17 Site safety in the spotlight 17 Brismark Board gathers for annual meeting 18 Special days push flower sales 19 Blooms aid bushfire recovery 19 Autumn lull before the Mother’s Day storm hits retailers

20 Fresh Developments 20 20 20 21 21

New training facility ready for business New loading area now in use Laying down the asphalt Building E1 takes shape Relationship built over 30 years

22 Fresh Perspectives 22 Celebrating 50 years of fond memories

29 Fresh Retailing 29 29 30 30

Customers cruise into stores to win big Cherrishing the season A very special Christmas outing The rise of the plant-based diet

32 Fresh Industry 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 35

Skilled visas widen labour options Fair Farms initiative hits century Warm welcome for new Bowen Gumlu representative Poulain takes on mushroom role Paradise Dam a top priority for Bundaberg growers New chair for new alliance Making lemonade out of lemons Mangoes industry get social

36 Fresh Export 36 New lychees tipped to grow exports to Taiwan 37 Securing freight access for Australian agricultural and fisheries exporters 38 Blueberries miss export opportunities 38 Never a dull moment for our horticultural exporters

BRISBANE MARKETS LIMITED | ABN 39 064 983 017 PO Box 80, Brisbane Markets®, Rocklea, Queensland 4106 E communications@brisbanemarkets.com.au W www.brisbanemarkets.com.au ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Editor: Seren Trump, Brisbane Markets Limited P 07 3915 4200 E communications@brisbanemarkets.com.au DESIGN Effigy Creative P 07 3040 4343 | PRINT Buckner Printing P 07 3865 9677

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Fresh Source is the magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited. New editions of the magazine are printed three times a year. Advertising and editorial inquiries are welcome and media outlets are invited to use material without acknowledgement. Fresh Source is printed on Australian made recycled stock.

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Queenslanders’ access to fruit and veg top priority amid coronavirus crisis As the world comes to terms with the ever changing social landscape we are being forced to deal with to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we are all being encouraged to look locally at the steps we can take as individuals, and as an industry, to positively contribute to see Queensland through this time of uncertainty.

Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) CEO, Andrew Young, said that as far as Brisbane Markets® was concerned, the decision was clear.

“Our main priority has been and must always be to facilitate the trade and supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for Queensland consumers. Now more than ever people are being encouraged to shop local, support fruit and vegetable retailers and to eat well to reduce the risk of the virus spreading and to maintain good health,” Mr Young said.

Growers fear labour shortage For the Australian horticulture industry and supply chain, maintaining the production and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to consumers is the top priority.

Grower groups have raised concerns about the possibility of labour shortages due to international and national travel restrictions limiting seasonal worker availability. The already-stretched industry is offering solutions including

extending visas for those already in the country, or bringing new workers in from overseas early to ensure the 14 day self-isolation period does not disrupt harvest.

Growcom has identified maintaining labour resources to harvest and pack fresh produce as a concern and CEO David Thomson said that the focus is ensuring the industry has the labour it needs continue feeding the nation.

“We expect backpackers and other overseas workers who would otherwise be picking and packing our fruits and

As a precautionary measure, BML has restricted public entry to the Brisbane Produce Market for tour groups and on Thursday and Friday mornings, a decision which has been fully supported by the market wholesalers’ representative organisation, Brismark.

“The move to restrict public entry to the main trading floor has been made as a precaution in the best interests of the safety of market employees and in support of our core business,” Mr Young said.

Any small business owners or restaurateurs who were accessing the Markets at these times to purchase from Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers can apply to become a registered Category C buyer to maintain access to the markets.

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Brisbane Produce Market will continue to supply fresh fruit and vegetables to registered buyers, but public entry hours and tours have been suspended.

vegetables in three or six months’ time will be making the decision not to travel to Australia. There are a range of options for filling any shortfall in labour and we are assured by the Australian government that all of them are on the table,” Mr Thomson said.

“As always, our preference is to provide opportunities for Australians to get a start and succeed in our industry. There are other obvious options too, like providing some additional flexibility for those already here and working to extend their stay.”

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president Carl Walker agreed that the government should extend existing working holiday visas to allow backpackers to stay in the country legally.

“We have put a request in to the federal government for all people on visas, which may be running out of time, for a one-year extension on humanitarian grounds. It’s a bit cruel to send these kids home to places where the virus is worse and with possibly struggling healthcare systems,” Mr Walker said.

This additional time could be spent on farm, in areas it is needed most.

For those not yet in the country, Mr Walker said they would need to be in the country early in order to complete the 14-day isolation period.

“At the end of the day we aren’t picking in Bowen yet and most growers won’t be until May or June. If people are coming from overseas, we need them to be coming in now so they can isolate and then be ready for picking in time,” he said.

Mr Walker pointed out that there were economic as well as labour considerations in keeping those on visas in the country.

“We should be keeping them here so they can continue working, but also because of the money they spend and inject into our economy and tourism industry,” he said.

According to Mr Walker, the health and agriculture industries were going to be essential during the pandemic.

“We need to make sure the people who feed us, the farmers, and the people who look after us, the health professionals, don’t lose their jobs,” Mr Walker said.

Lockyer Valley Growers president Michael Sippel said that growers who were currently in production were likely to find adequate resources with workers already on the ground expected to stay

in Australia, but difficulties could arise for those who had yet to start their season.

“It’s the ones who will be packing and cutting in one or two months’ time that are most concerned that there will be competition amongst the farmers for the available workers,” Mr Sippel said.

Mr Sippel said he was concerned that if a labour solution wasn’t found, crops could be left unharvested.

“I’m worried there just won’t be anywhere near enough people available for harvesting and if there’s not enough people you can’t have the same productivity,” he said.

Consumers encouraged to eat fresh Advice from public health officials encourages everyone in the community to focus on their health during this pandemic, including maintaining good hygiene habits, social distancing and consuming fresh fruit and vegetables.

“As individuals, one of the ways we can be best prepared is to boost our own immune system by eating a more varied diet, including the recommended five serves each day of fruits and vegetables,” Mr Thomson said.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Produce Marketing Association (PMA) have all said that there was no evidence that COVID-19 could be transmitted via food.

“The good news for consumers is that, as favourable conditions continue and growers ramp up production, the volume of produce coming into the Brisbane Markets® a expected to continue to increase. Even those vegetable lines where there had been limited availability should see prices returning to normal with good supplies expected over the coming weeks,” Mr Young said.

Mr Sippel said that rains in February and early March along with milder weather was boding well for produce coming out of Lockyer Valley.

“Supply is looking okay and especially through the winter months when the local vegetables are being harvested, we will be in full swing. There won’t be extra supply but it will be a normal winter season for us, which back in December and January we would never have expected this to be the case,” Mr Sippel said.

The change in conditions has been welcomed by fruit and vegetable retailers as they work hard to keep local fruit shop shelves full of top quality fruit and vegetables from the Brisbane Markets® and meet increased consumer demand.

“We know how much Queenslanders love their fresh produce and, with fruit and vegetables so important for maintaining good health and boosting immunity, this is very positive news,” Mr Young said.

“There are no clinically confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to the consumption of fresh produce or food sold through traditional retail outlets. As consumers select their produce, adhering to food safety guidance is critical. We encourage consumers to wash their hands, and wash and prepare their produce,” PMA global CEO Cathy Burns said in a statement supported by PMA-ANZ. Consumers can be confident that favourable conditions including good rain and milder temperatures means the supply of fresh produce from Queensland growers is expected to increase over the coming weeks.

Mr Young said drought, summer bushfires and heatwaves, along with torrential rain and flooding in different growing regions across the country, had seen the price of some product lines, particularly vegetables, creep up over recent weeks as supplies tightened.

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president Carl Walker.

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Apple production marks fire recovery efforts The effects of prolonged drought had a profound impact over summer, with bushfires hitting every Australian state.

Just one of the many growing communities affected by the fires was the apple orchards of Batlow.

In January, federal politicians joined Apple & Pear Australia Limited (APAL) to meet with growers and visit impacted regions.

APAL is developing a detailed Apple Industry Bushfire Recovery Plan program to present to the government on costs and the next steps needed to rebuild the industry.

“We will be consulting with the regions to make sure we are representing their interests and needs effectively to government. In addition to the bushfires, we are still prioritising the massive impact of drought across Australia,” said APAL CEO Phil Turnbull.

Batlow Fruit Company director and apple grower Greg Mouat said the production of local royal gala apples has now commenced, signalling the community’s ongoing recovery.

“There are more than 20 apple growers in Batlow who supply to Batlow Apples and almost all of them had their orchards damaged in the bushfires,” he said.

Rain brings hope for growing regions The drought has not broken but widespread late summer rains have brought a palpable sense of relief in grower communities.

“It has given growers a sense of optimism and hope. Before, we just didn’t know when the next rain would come, it was so dry,” Mr Sippel said.

The rainfall in late January and February signalled the end of the devastating bushfires that swept the nation between September 2019 and January 2020.

“Every drought we face, growers learn more about how to grow crops on less water. We learn to farm more efficiently.”

Granite Belt Growers Association President, Angus Ferrier, said that the rain had been patchy across the Granite Belt, with some growers’ dams at full capacity while others were feeling a little left out.

“The reality is the drought hasn’t broken but it has certainly given us a reprieve in the short to medium term. The mood amongst the growers is much improved and there is a lot more action in the townships,” Mr Ferrier said.

“It’s enough of a turn in the season that growers are feeling optimistic that the worst is behind us and we are planning ahead for next season.”

Lockyer Valley Growers President Michael Sippel said growers in the Lockyer Valley had received between 150 and 300 mm, depending on their location, with the majority of water falling in the upper catchment.

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Mr Sippel said there had been isolated pockets of damage from heavy downpours, but this hasn’t been widespread.

“We haven’t seen the same amount of rains as we have further west in areas like St George, Dalby and Oakey where they’ve seen hundreds of millimetres and flooding,” he said.

“It was a general soaking rain which was phenomenal. Now we have grass cover, so a heavy downpour won’t do as much damage. However, if we don’t get any rain between now and June we will be back where we were last year.”

At the beginning of December, an additional eight Queensland local council areas were drought-declared taking the total to 67.4% of the state’s landmass. The total recorded rainfall over January and February was 280.5 mm at the Stanthope weather station and 180.4 mm at Gatton.

PM visits growers: Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack (right) met with Batlow apple grower Greg Mouat (centre) and APAL CEO Phil Turnbull (not pictured) in January to discuss ways to support the industry and assist with the development of an Apple Industry Bushfire Recovery Plan for regions impacted by bushfires.

IMAGE: Apple & Pear Australia Limited

“Some suffered damage to about 5% of their orchards, while others had up to 40% damaged. Preliminary assessments of those orchards have been done, but it will take several months to assess the full extent of damage to this year’s crop and the long-term ability of damaged trees to produce fruit.”

McKenzie ousted David Littleproud has returned to the position of Federal Agriculture Minister after a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of Senator Bridget McKenzie’s resignation due to the sports grants furore and subsequent National Party leadership spill.

In January, it was revealed that during her time as Sports Minister Senator McKenzie had allocated grant funding to marginal seats that were being targeted in the lead up to the 2019 Federal Election rather than following Sport Australia’s funding recommendations.

The final nail in McKenzie’s coffin was the revelation that she failed to disclose her membership of two shooting organisations that received funding as part of the Sports Grants.

In standing down from cabinet, McKenzie relinquished both her agriculture portfolio and her role as Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals. She has retained her role as Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, which she has held since July 2019.

How it happened September 2019 Sunwater announces it is reducing the capacity of Paradise Dam to 42% ahead of the 2019/20 wet season, amidst concerns the Dam could fail in the wake of an extreme water event like the 2013 cyclone and flood.

Irrigators are told they can have free access to 75% of the released water only a few days before the releases start, leaving little time to prepare.

The Paradise Dam spillway is set to be reduced by five metres.

No closer to a Paradise solution Growers, local politicians and industry groups have been left in dismay as the Palaszczuk Government pushes ahead with plans to downsize Paradise Dam. Despite three ongoing inquiries, on 5 February the Queensland Government passed amendments to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 which allow Sunwater to reduce the dam wall by 5 m and begin spillway modification work without the normal council or environmental approvals.

The Building Australia report into long-term solutions for the dam, the government’s independent Commission of Inquiry into the dam’s structural and stability issues, as well as the Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) independent expert inquiry by RIZZO International, are all still in progress.

Initial estimates have suggested it would cost $750 million to repair the dam to maintain 100% capacity. Paradise Dam cost $240 million to build and was opened in 2006.

A Sunwater spokesperson said that the reduction of the dam wall and spillway modification work was the first step in rectifying the issues on a short-term basis, with its long-term future to be determined by a Building Queensland report.

“Our assessment has been supported by 13 national and international technical experts. We cannot ignore the clear evidence. The decision was not taken lightly but had to be made in the interests of safety,” they said.

BFVG managing director Bree Grima said local growers were shocked the government had passed the legislation.

“We cannot believe that an amendment like this would come through that bypasses 17 pieces of legislation. Decisions that affect the future of an entire region, importantly its economy and its jobs, are coming out from the state government without consultation or explanation,” Ms Grima said.

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the decision had not been made lightly and the government’s primary concern was community safety.

“We have sought to balance our obligations to make the community safe with the needs of industry for water security.

The wall needs to be lowered in the dry season and waiting is simply not an option,” Mr Lynham said.

According to Ms Grima, if the government is making decisions on evidence that were not yet public, then it must release this information immediately.

“If the concerns are real then of course they must take action. But as of yet they’ve not produced the proof. Producers are justifiably anxious about their crops and livelihood,” Ms Grima said.

Building Queensland is commissioned to create a detailed business case in partnership with Sunwater to investigate long-term options to ensure the dam continues to meet best practice standards.

November 2019 Initially, Sunwater refuses to release the reports that led to their decision to lower the dam wall. On 29 November 2019, after much pressure from local councils and grower groups, Sunwater releases the technical reports.

Former Supreme Court Judge John Byrne is appointed to lead an independent Commission of Inquiry into the root cause of the dam’s structural and stability issues. Public submissions were called for and public hearings were scheduled for Brisbane in February and Bundaberg in March.

December 2019 The final water release is completed on 2 December 2019. Of the total 103,954 megalitres released between September and December, 75,539 megalitres was made available for free to irrigators and a further 25,000 megalitres has been stored in Ben Anderson Barrage and Ned Churchward Weir for future use.

BFVG announces that they would be funding their own independent expert inquiry to investigate alternate options for Paradise Dam and review the technical reports released by Sunwater.

January 2020 In late January, RIZZO International’s chief technical officer Dr Paul Rizzo visits Bundaberg and the Paradise Dam site, attending meetings with Sunwater, industry representative and growers.

During a public meeting, Dr Rizzo says that he considers the dam to be repairable and there are a number of safe and economic options available to repair the dam without reducing the height of the wall.

February 2020 On 5 February, the State Government passes amendments to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008, enabling Sunwater to reduce the dam wall without obtaining the usual council or environmental approvals.

On 12 February, Sunwater said they expected to name the successful contractor in March, with work to lower the spillway to commence in May.

March 2020 Growers protest outside of the Paradise Dam Commission of Inquiry during its public hearings in Bundaberg.

Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE

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Updates

Banana waste packed with potential STORY: Liam O’Callaghan, Produce Plus Two researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney have discovered how to turn banana plantation waste into a packaging material that is not only biodegradable, but also recyclable.

Jayashree Arcot and Martina Stenzel were looking for ways to create value from agricultural waste and saw an opportunity in the banana industry where only 12% of the banana tree is being used.

The pair turned the banana plant’s pseudostems – the layered, fleshy trunk of the plant – into a powder to create a material called nano-cellulose. This material has a range of uses and when processed it has a consistency similar to baking paper.

to make into a powder which you could then sell, that’s a much better option for them as well as for us,” Arcot said.

At the other end of the supply chain, Stenzel said if packaging manufacturers updated their machines to be able to fabricate the nano-cellulose film into bags and other food packaging materials, then banana pseudostems stand a real chance of making food packaging much more sustainable.

“What we’re really wanting at this stage is an industry partner who can look into how this could be upscaled and how cheap we can make it,” Stenzel said.

Arcot said depending on the intended thickness, the material could be used in a number of different formats in food packaging.

“There are some options at this point, we could make a shopping bag, for example,” explained Arcot.

“Or depending on how we pour the material and how thick we make it, we could make the trays that you see for meat and fruit. Except instead of being foam, it is a material that is completely non-toxic, biodegradable and recyclable.”

The researchers said tests also confirmed the material breaks down organically, is recyclable and poses no contamination risks.

For the banana pseudostem to be a realistic alternative to plastic bags and food packaging, Arcot said it would make sense for the banana industry to start to process the pseudostems into powder, which it could then sell to packaging suppliers.

“If the banana industry can come on board, and say to its farmers or growers that there’s a lot of value in using those pseudostems

Packed with potential: Researchers at UNSW are looking at using banana plant waste to create recyclable packaging.

Panama raises its ugly head

North spices up

A fourth case of Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4) has been detected on a Tully Valley banana farm.

Cumin, fennel, kalonji, caraway and black sesame crops will be a part of a new three-year $1.2 million Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) project.

Biosecurity Queensland officers identified banana plants that displayed symptoms typical of Panama TR4 during a routine inspection of the property in January.

A vegetative compatibility group (VCG) test has confirmed the initial positive DNA-based molecular test for Panama TR4. The property where the new case has been discovered is in close proximity to the three previously confirmed infested Panama TR4 properties in the Tully Valley.

Biosecurity Queensland said that while the news is disappointing for the banana industry in Far North Queensland, they are encouraged by the positive actions and attitudes of the affected grower.

When a ‘suspect case’ is declared, the grower on the affected property needs to meet a set of biosecurity requirements.

Thanks to existing on-farm biosecurity measures and with support from biosecurity officers the grower was able to meet these requirements and resume trading within four days.

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Five spice crops are part of a trial to see if they would be suited to large-scale production in northern Australia.

Research leader Dr Surya Bhattarai from Central Queensland University (CQU) said the team, which will include irrigation, agronomy and economic development specialists, would initially run small trials of each spice after earlier glasshouse trials showed they had strong potential for inclusion in broadacre crop rotations.

“Commercial trials are due to start in the project’s final year, by which time we will also have a comprehensive manual for producers detailing which crops to grow, the best areas to grow them, and an outline of the market and supply chain opportunities,” he said.

A high-value broadacre spice and condiment industry in northern Australia could replace imports, generate exports to Asia and the Middle East, and see northern producers secure their share of the growing global spice trade – estimated to be worth around $12 billion annually.

Damaging pest found on Australian shores Fall armyworm has been spotted as far south as the Burdekin, just a month after it was first spotted in the Torres Strait.

The pest has been sighted in Bamaga, Georgetown, South Johnstone, Tolga, Lakeland and, most recently, in the Burdekin.

Surveillance has commenced in the Atherton Tablelands, Innisfail, Port Douglas, Mossman, Lakeland and Cairns regions.

Biosecurity Queensland General Manager Plant Biosecurity and Product Integrity Mike Ashton said the detection of the fall armyworms shows how quickly the pest could spread.

How to identify fall armyworm Larvae are light coloured with a larger darker head.

As they develop, they become browner with white lengthwise stripes and also develop dark spots with spines.

Adult moths are 32 to 40 mm in length wing tip to wing tip, with a brown or grey forewing and a white hind wing.

Male fall armyworm adults have more patterns and a distinct white spot on each of their forewings.

Industry and the general public are strongly encouraged to report suspect detections of fall armyworm moths and larvae to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

“Fall armyworm is an invasive moth pest that feeds in large numbers on more than 350 plant species and causes major damage to economically important cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat, and also to other horticultural crops and cotton,” Mr Ashton said.

“They are most active during late summer and early autumn months, but may be active year-round in tropical areas.

Growers should have on-farm biosecurity measures in place to protect their crops from pests and diseases.”

The national Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests has considered this latest detection and have agreed that it is not technically feasible to eradicate fall armyworm from Australia.

The Queensland Government will convene an urgent industry roundtable to discuss managing the serious threat posed by the pest. This involves working closely with industry to identify strategies for dealing with this new threat and protecting our valuable plant resources.

The larvae form of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). IMAGE: Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Surveillance is being undertaken, including trapping, in major agricultural areas across Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia to determine the extent of the current outbreak and also to monitor its spread.

Native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Americas, it can fly up to 500 kilometres and has spread quickly around the world.

The pest is already well established in South East Asia and Indonesia, and can be active year-round in tropical areas such as North Queensland. Fall armyworm has not been eradicated anywhere else in the world.

The adult moth of the fall armyworm. IMAGE: Lyle Buss, University of Florida, Bugwood.org

Map aids rapid response to fires Scientists have released a map that shows avocado, mango, olive, banana, macadamia and citrus orchards that have been impacted by bushfire, to help with response and recovery efforts.

The Australian Bushfires Rapid Response Map outlines the location of treecrops across Australia, overlayed with a map of burnt areas, which updates every ten minutes.

Avocados Australia chief executive John Tyas said the Australian Bushfires Rapid Response Map has provided an easy, up-to-date and credible tool to help his industry body

keep growers informed and respond as needed.

“This mapping has done exactly what it was meant to do: allow for assessment and response to a natural disaster. Like everyone, we’re hoping for some better conditions in the coming weeks and months and our thoughts are with everyone affected,” Mr Tyas said.

You can see the Australian Bushfires Rapid Response Map here: https://bit.ly/2GUji5T.

Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE 11

Updates

Cricket legends mentor sporting youngsters in Bundaberg As part of its support of Queensland’s regional growing areas, Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) was once again the major sponsor of the Bulls Masters under 16 Youth Cup cricket event, which was held in Bundaberg just before Christmas.

Integral to developing cricketers in regional Queensland, the Youth Cup allows the best players in each zone to get higher-level competition at no cost to them or their family. Through sponsors like BML, Bulls Masters pays for all of the travel, accommodation and team kits for all eight zones.

All teams have a former Queensland Cricket legend as a mentor, such as Carl Rackemann, Jimmy Maher or Luke Feldman, which gives these young players top level coaching and tactics. The event was livestreamed on Facebook and the games had over 57K viewers over the five days of the carnival, which shows how important this event is in regional areas.

Five in one: Darling Downs player, Callum Barnett, claimed five wickets in one match.

Player of the Tournament, Far North Queensland player Finn Churchward with Queensland Cricket selector Charlie Burke.

South East Queensland Stormers won the Youth Cup for the first time, beating the Gold Coast Thunder in the final.

The BML flag was also flown at the Gabba as part of the Country Challenge Final in January. The premier T20 competition for regional Queensland cricketers, the Country Challenge was also livestreamed with over 15K views.

The final was won by the Gold Coast Thunder who narrowly beat the North Queensland Monsoons after rain ended play early.

Youth Cup winners South East Queensland Stormers.

Food recall platform launched Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) and GS1 Australia have officially signed an agreement to support the Australian fresh fruit and vegetable industry to achieve enhanced food safety through the use of a national food recall platform.

Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation, requested Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) to identify appropriate regulatory and non-regulatory measures for Australia to manage food safety risks.

Particular products included berries, pre-cut fruits and melons. The request creates a microscopic focus on the risk management of these products and has become a key focus area for produce growers, suppliers and the PMA A-NZ.

The peak industry body PMA A-NZ encourages the adoption of the GS1 Australia Recall portal within the fresh produce industry to assist growers and suppliers address major challenges of food tampering and food safety.

Darren Keating, CEO of PMA A-NZ, said, “Food safety underpins the success of the entire fresh produce industry.

By using tools such as GS1 Australia’s Recall platform, the industry can achieve greater speed and consistency in the management of their product recalls and withdrawals, delivering safer produce to Australian consumers.”

In February this year, Ministers from the

The use of the Recall platform is

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supported by FSANZ as a communication tool that enables organisations of any size, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and importers to share product recall notifications with their trading partners and regulators.

Recall is also certified by HACCP Australia as an effective and suitable technology for businesses that operate a HACCP based Food Safety Program.

“GS1 Australia is proud to continue its collaboration with PMA,” said Marcel Sieira, GS1 Australia’s Chief Customer Officer, “and help their members be better prepared for product recalls. Being able to communicate with your key trading partners and regulators is key for organisations to protect their customers, their reputation and their brand.”

More information on the Recall platform can be found at https://bit.ly/39WWFKW.

Fruitful visit for Japanese trainees In an Australian first, an on-farm training project in the Whitsundays is allowing nine Japanese trainees to experience the full cycle of growing, from planting seeds through to picking fruit.

The trainees are participating in the Whitsunday AgriKnowledge Sharing Project, a unique initiative supported by Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, Whitsunday Regional Council, TAFE Queensland, and Trade and Investment Queensland’s Study Queensland team.

program further and lead to new opportunities for growers in the future,” Mr Walker said.

The Whitsunday Agri-Knowledge Sharing Project aims to bring together the next generation of Japanese agriculture with local Queensland farmers to help stimulate agricultural trade and understanding between Japan and Queensland, especially regional Queensland. It has the potential to attract hundreds more trainees in the future.

The project provides Japanese agriculture graduates with hands-on training in areas such as agronomy, seeding, planting and harvesting.

As well as giving the trainees practical skills, it aims to foster positive long-term relationships between Queensland and Japan, with flow-on benefits to trade and training partnerships.

Trainee Kenta Noda, a graduate from Tokyo University of Agriculture, began his first practical placement at Bowen’s BQ Seedlings in March 2019. Kenta continued his training at Brak Pak farm, also in Bowen, which grows tomatoes, pumpkins and mangoes. At Brak Pak, he helped to plant and care for the seedlings he germinated during his last placement.

According to Bowen Gumlu Growers Association President, Carl Walker, the Japanese trainee exchange program has proved to be successful, benefiting both growers and trainees equally.

“We have built strong relationships with the Japanese Agriculture Exchange Council and Trade and Investment Queensland in Tokyo, which will enable us to develop the

Productive visit: The Japanese agriculture graduates visited Brisbane Produce Market in March to witness the end result of their work in Bowen. IMAGE: Gustavo Yoshida

Every day, two Australians are diagnosed with MND and two Australians die from MND. There is no cure or treatment and the average life expectancy is 2.5 years.

Please help us ensure that no Queenslander has to face Motor Neurone Disease alone.

Reach out, take the next step and join us to become part of the solution.

Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE 13

Updates

Calls for domestic regulation of ‘organic’ claims

remain out of step with global standards when it comes to the domestic regulation,” Ms Ford said.

“Currently, AOL is lobbying government to agree to a consistent definition for the use of the word organic. It is our key priority to have this implemented in 2020.”

Despite being one of the first countries to develop a national standard for organic produce, Australia is now the last developed nation to enforce a domestic standard for use of the word ‘organic’.

Australia has a long history with organic produce. Officially launched in 1992, Australia’s National Standard for Organic & Bio Dynamic Produce was one of the first organic standards outside of the European Union. The organic industry is now estimated to be worth $2.6 billion, contributing $700 million to exports annually.

According Australian Organic Limited (AOL) CEO, Niki Ford, this means that the only way an Australian consumer can be certain a product is truly organic and not get fooled at the register is to look for a certification mark.

AOL’s ‘Bud’ certification logo is sublicensed to over 2,000 certified organic businesses, appears on over 32,000 products and is recognised by over 50% of Australian shoppers (Australian Organic Market Report 2019).

“While Australia champions organics in many ways, we

Strawberries a family affair in SEQ Laura and Pieter Hendriksen started growing strawberries in 1985 along with an assortment of vegetables, including cherry tomatoes, zucchini and button squash.

It all began at Richlands, on land belonging to Laura’s grandmother. In time, they moved to Park Ridge and their focus has evolved to producing fresh strawberries all year round across three locations - Park Ridge, Chambers Flat and Applethorpe on the Granite Belt.

Despite the climatic challenges the business faces with production on the Granite Belt, the Hendriksen family still believe it is important to supply good quality, sweet tasting strawberries all year round for Queensland consumers to enjoy.

Mr and Mrs Hendriksen with their children Rick, Josh, Carla and Nicole are all involved in various aspects of the business including farming operations, payroll, staff management, pack-shed management and quality assurance. And of course, as small business owners, they share out the various administrative and compliance tasks that underpin any horticultural business.

Rick manages the Applethorpe farm and is currently producing fruit under the ‘Berry Blush’ label. The Hendriksen’s normally grow about 650,000 plants over summer from October to May, however, because of the severe drought on the Granite Belt they reduced their plant numbers to 300,000 this season. The climate on the Granite Belt is unpredictable over summer and the area is prone to significant weather events.

“Unfortunately, our farm was hit by a severe hailstorm in December and we lost about 70% of our crop. We are back picking good quality strawberries now, which should continue until May,” Rick said.

In the family: Laura and Pieter Hendriksen with their son Rick on the farm.

For those that know their strawberry varieties, the Applethorpe farm produces Albion and San Andreas which are both known to produce large, uniformed shaped, sweet tasting berries.

Preparation is also currently underway for the winter strawberry production season at the Park Ridge and Chambers Flat farms. Plastic and fertiliser have been laid in readiness for planting strawberry varieties which have been specifically bred for winter – Red Rhapsody and Petaluma.

“We will be planting in the order of 650,000 plants in March to supply Brisbane Markets® with fruit from June until October.

Our ‘Sunrise Strawberries’ brand is available from a number of agents in the Brisbane Produce Market and a variety of fruit and vegetable retail outlets in Queensland,” Mrs Hendriksen said.

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Tasty sweet treats: A selection of the Hendriksen’s strawberries.

Some retail markets suspended, fresh produce supply continues The popular Brisbane Night Market and Sunday Discovery Market held at Brisbane Markets® each weekend were suspended indefinitely during March, due to concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) CEO, Andrew Young, said the decision followed consideration of the escalating risks associated with the spread of coronavirus and the decisions being taken by the state and federal governments.

“While there have been no reports of any contagion by coronavirus linked to any of our Markets, BML believes it is appropriate to be overly cautious given the current outbreak,” Mr Young said.

“I know that our many regular customers

and stallholders will be disappointed to see the Friday night and Sunday morning Markets suspended, but I’m sure they will understand and appreciate why this decision has been made.”

In contrast, these closures will not affect the Saturday Fresh Market which Mr Young said is an ongoing important source of fresh fruit and vegetables and other fresh food products for many Brisbanites.

“Now more than ever people are being encouraged to shop local, support fruit and vegetable retailers and to eat well to reduce the risk of the virus spreading and to maintain good health, so it is important that our Saturday Fresh Market continues to be available to consumers,” Mr Young said.

The Saturday Fresh Market will continue to supply the public with fresh, locally sourced produce.

Half-year results announced Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) has announced its half-year financial results to 31 December 2019 and reported a statutory net profit after income tax of $8.36 million.

This result reflects a pre-tax underlying profit of $7.69 million, excluding revaluation adjustments and contribution from Perth Markets Group Limited and investments, which is an increase of 10% on the prior year.

BML Chairman, Tony Joseph, said the result reflected the group’s ongoing investment into the Brisbane

Markets® site, including the development of the new $17.5 million, purpose-built 5,541 m2 Montague Produce Facility.

“There are a range of projects being progressed across the site, with a further major development due for completion later this year,” Mr Joseph said.

BML also announced an interim dividend to be paid to shareholders for the half-year of 8.25 cents per share fully paid, fully franked which is a 3% increase on the same time last year.

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Markets

Watermelon traceability from gate to plate STORY: Chris Komerek, Produce Plus One of Queensland’s largest seedless watermelon growers, Marto Farms, has unveiled a new way for consumers to track and trace the fruit they consume.

In an Australian first, the blockchain end-to-end consumer traceability and marketing system, developed by FreshChain, aims to educate consumers on the origin of the fruit, as well as introduce them to the producer that grew it.

According to Marto Farms Director, Andrew Martens, consumer engagement has developed over time.

“The world has changed, and people simply want to know more about their food, its location and those who produce it. Consumers can now simply scan a QR code on our seedless melons label to see detailed information on the harvest, conditions, certifications and handy hints relating to that specific melon,” Mr Martens said.

Greg Calvert, founding director at FreshChain, said consumers have responded strongly to the technology.

“The response so far for watermelons has been very encouraging. Whether from the wholesale markets or retail stores we have had significant follow-up from consumers and customers wanting more detail on who is stocking these melons and availability,” said Mr Calvert.

“People want more detail and to be assured the food is authentic and safe but not be overwhelmed with data. We continue to achieve a significant number of QR scans and are receiving great feedback, including on storage tips for fresh food which is a major contributor to food waste.”

“Beyond just consumers, our entire fresh food eco system seems to be heavily vested in ensuring we protect Australia’s wider reputation as a global provider of safe and fresh food,” he added.

Although currently applied to watermelons, FreshChain is working with other producers to coincide with different seasons, including other melons, berries, stonefruit, bananas, mangoes, leafy greens and tomatoes.

Produce traceability is an important asset to consumers across Asia, and Calvert believes that it’s growing in interest in Australia.

“There is no question that the desire to understand more about your food and those who produce it is on the increase,” explained Calvert.

“Talking to hundreds of growers and thousands of consumers, they all talk about building trust by being more open and prepared to share which in turn builds loyalty and value.

Paddock to plate: QR codes are providing customers with useful information about their watermelon purchase.

Choosing the right forklift for your market business A major equipment investment like a forklift requires careful consideration and expert advice.

Purchasing specialised equipment to get the job done is one of the most important decisions and expenditures that a business can make. Before making that purchase, it’s important to determine what you need and how you can get value for your money.

For many, buying a forklift is an essential part of doing business. Before you start looking at different models of forklifts, it’s a good idea to ask yourself these fundamental questions and how it will impact your business: • What are the most difficult material handling tasks to accomplish in my workplace?

• How will a forklift help me get the job done better?

• What is the best way a forklift can accomplish these tasks?

• How often would my business utilise this piece of equipment?

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Choosing the right forklift for your business will depend on what you need that forklift to do.

• Does my business require special forklift attachments to accomplish tasks?

• What level of support does the forklift company offer my business?

If you have any concerns or require additional information, it’s a good idea to discuss them with material handling professionals.

For more information on selecting the right forklift for your business you can contact the team at Toyota Material Handling (QLD) on 3845 0210 or 1800 425 438.

Site safety in the spotlight Brismark and Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) are rolling out their 2020 Site Safety program, beginning with the introduction of random drug and alcohol testing for market employees engaged as forklift operators.

In January, BML and Brismark began asking all Brisbane Markets® employers to execute a Memorandum of Understanding committing to adopting Drug and Alcohol Management policies within their business and confirming their support for the site-wide drug and alcohol testing for forklift operators.

Forklift operators tested: Before competing in the 2019 Forklift Operator of the Year grand final, forklift operators had to undergo drug and alcohol testing.

During March, familiarisation workshops commenced to: • promote awareness of the new testing process, • ensure all parties are familiar with the approach being taken, • promote the relevance of having a drug and alcohol management policy in place, and • outline the ramifications if a test returns a non-negative or positive result.

The implementation of this program responds to tenant and forklift operator surveys, both of which highlighted strong

Take care with custard apples As the custard apple season begins, Custard Apples Australia (CAA) have called on the supply chain to be careful of the fragile fruit.

CAA secretary, Cassie Warren, said despite a challenging year custard apple growers continue to enthusiastically grow and present quality fruit to markets.

“Even though they may look tough, custard apples are fragile and care should be taken at every stage of the supply chain. Due to their unique skin, custard apples are susceptible to rub marks,” Ms Warren said.

“When sending fruit interstate to restricted markets there are successful, approved methods of post-harvest treatment that can be applied to ensure fruit quality remains to the highest standard from the farm gate to the consumer plate.”

According to Ms Warren, post-harvest treatment of custard apples includes a combination of ICA 01, ICA 18 and ICA 38 which is fruit fly bait spraying, dipping and inspection for melon thrips, all of which occur on-farm.

“CAA strongly believe that post-harvest treatment by fumigation and irradiation can cause significant damage to fruit quality and advise against this. These methods have the potential to damage the reputation of custard apples in the marketplace by leaving the fruit in an unsatisfactory condition for sale.”

A typical custard apple season runs from February to October, with harvest commencing in North Queensland and working down the coast to the growing regions of Central Queensland, Wide Bay, the Sunshine Coast until fruit from northern New South Wales also hits the markets.

support for a coordinated site-wide approach to addressing forklift operator safety and the implementation of drug and alcohol testing.

The testing process will be phased in late 2020. Where a forklift operator returns a non-negative or positive test result, they will not be permitted to operate a forklift on common areas within Brisbane Markets® until a negative test result is returned. Furthermore, an operator who returns multiple non-negative/positive test results may permanently lose their ability to operate a forklift at Brisbane Markets®.

Brismark Board gathers for annual meeting Brismark, the membership organisation of Brisbane Produce Market’s primary wholesalers, held its Annual General Meeting on 19 November 2019.

The new Brismark Board is comprised of Gary Lower (Chairman), Mark Murphy* (Deputy Chairman), Andrew Young (CEO), Gail Woods (Company Secretary), and Directors Stephen Edwards*, Peter Tighe*, Noel Greenhalgh, Mark Clarke*, Mark Moore, Hamish Montague*, Troy Beaton, Paul O’Toole and Lachlan Armstrong. Five Directors (marked with *) had reached the end of the two-year term and were returned to the board unopposed, while Alex Lazarou did not seek reelection and was replaced by Lachlan Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong said joining the Brismark Board was a great opportunity to have a say and contribute to the future of the industry.

“The fresh produce industry is continuously facing change. I think contributing as a collective is very important in managing that change and securing the industry’s future,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to learning the experience of others and providing an avenue for the next generation of primary wholesalers to share their thoughts and ideas.”

As well as Brismark’s core activities, ongoing collaboration with Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) was discussed, including a site-wide approach to drug and alcohol testing, and upcoming WHS training initiatives including traffic management plan awareness. The advantages of using Brismark’s Credit Service was highlighted, and strong support recommended.

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Markets

Special days push flower sales

Andrew Buch anan opted for a sim ple rose bouquet for hi s wife.

Red roses were still the most in-demand flower on Valentine’s Day, however cost-conscious shoppers opted for mixing roses with other flowers rather than more traditional rose-only bouquets.

Hundreds of thousands of flowers were delivered across the state in the lead up to Valentine’s Day with trucks arriving 24 hours a day to meet the expected demand.

In total, Brisbane Flower Market wholesalers sold over 200,000 stems of red roses for the special day.

Blossoms arrived from Queensland’s growers, including those in Redlands, the Sunshine Coast and the Lockyer Valley, and further afield from Victoria and Tasmania, as well as imported flowers from Central America, Africa and India.

“Red roses of every variety are always a clear favourite for Valentine’s Day,” said Brisbane Flowers Market spokesperson Luke Leeson.

“While red is still the favourite across the board, we are seeing younger customers opting for modern styling and mixed bunches rather than the traditional, one dozen longstemmed roses that are favoured by older customers.”

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Orchids, oriental lilies, gerberas, disbud chrysanthemums and hydrangeas were all popular options to mix with roses.

“Adding other flowers with roses provides more variety and a longer vase life for budget conscious shoppers, allowing the romance to continue long after Valentine’s Day,” Mr Leeson said.

With mixed bunches, as the flowers fade they can be taken out and the arrangement will still look beautiful.

“A sure-fire way to really grab the attention of your special someone is to buy their favourite flowers, and as long as the bouquet is presented beautifully, your loved one will be happy,” Mr Leeson said.

Edres Z am chose a swee ani t selec tion for his wife.

Tozer Hayden rose a d te c sele is et for h bouqu nd. girlfrie

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Autumn lull before the Mother’s Day storm hits retailers

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As the summer lines finish, shoppers at the Brisbane Flower Market may notice a reduction in variety in the cool rooms due to the summer heat preventing plantings. But never fear, it won’t be long until your favourites are back in stock and the winter flowers kick in.

March has less variety than other months but year-round blooms were still around with roses, carnations, gypsophila (baby’s breath), lisianthus, and, increasingly, tulips to be found throughout autumn. April is expected to see a rise in available flowers and sales are tipped to increase around Easter. As the weather gets cooler, variety increases as does flower quality and retail purchases.

In foliage, grey colourings are plentiful over autumn. Wattles, feijoa, and eucalypt will all be in good supply and the more subdued tones complement autumnal colour schemes.

May is for mothers May brings Mother’s Day, with bright mixed bunches featuring lots of variety and the ever-popular chrysanthemums.

Redlands Fresh Flowers started prepping for Mother’s Day at their farm early in February, and will have locally-grown chrysanthemums, lisianthus, dahlias, asters and more in time for the biggest event in the floral calendar. May will also see an influx of locally-grown snapdragons and stock.

Mother’s Day and increased tulips within the Brisbane Flower Market signal that June is coming bringing blooming beautiful bulbs including hyacinths, daffodils, and jonquils. posy l pink d Paste phen an te i. for S Kajewsk e li y K

Modern styling Weddings are back on the agenda over March and April, with couples choosing to marry over the Easter long weekend when it is easier for family and friends to travel to the event. Pastels are very popular with brides at the moment, with a return to a modern rose look that is more textured than traditional round bouquets.

Blooms aid bushfire recovery

This modern look will also translate into your everyday arrangements, with styling taking on a more unstructured look which is particularly popular with young people: think freshly plucked wildflowers, reflexed roses and a textured, ornamental look.

Redlands Fresh Flowers is getting involved with a new fundraising initiative by Bloom Aid to #BuyaFlowerwithPower.

If you’re looking to entice customers into your local fruit shop, independent retailers are being encouraged to plan ahead for Mother’s Day sales by make a strong floral statement in the lead up to Easter. By displaying flowers and signage in the fortnight before Easter and then continuing until Mother’s Day, you will remain front of mind when people are seeking bouquets for their mums.

The hashtag campaign and subsequent fundraising efforts were launched for Valentine’s Day, with Redlands donating $2 from every sale on the day to the cause. The fundraising will continue on Mother’s Day. Bloom Aid’s aspiration is to engage the global floral industry to lead the charge in the aftermath of natural disasters – raising funds to significantly impact the regeneration of a land’s native flora and habitat.

Their first fundraiser endeavor was to aid bushfire revegetation across Australia.

Tips for retailers

Mixed bunches of foliage are growing in popularity, with independent fruit and vegetable retailers as well as smaller florists able to just add blooms to make a lovely bouquet without purchasing large quantities. By building solid foundations over April and May, flower sales are sure to increase when the beautiful, sweet smelling bulbs kick in over the winter months.

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New training facility ready for business A new training centre at Brisbane Markets® has opened its doors for the markets community.

Brismark’s Training Centre was officially opened on Wednesday, 29 January by Chairman Gary Lower.

Brismark’s Human Resources and Business Services Manager, Lisa Dwyer, said the new centre would become the central hub for industry training, information sessions, conferences and workshops for the markets community and beyond.

“The new centre is conveniently located within the Brisbane Produce Market and features three rooms of varying sizes as well as a fully equipped kitchen,” Ms Dwyer said.

“We’re expecting a good response to this new facility as it means people won’t have to travel far, and all training is delivered by qualified, experienced trainers with the courses tailored to the specific needs of the fresh produce industry.”

The fully equipped centre, featuring AV presentation and video conferencing facilities, is also available for hire. For more information or to book the centre contact Brismark’s Business Services team on 07 3915 4222 or training@brismark.com.au.

Protection from weather: buyers have begun using the new Covered Loading Area.

New loading area now in use Brisbane Markets Limited has unveiled its latest site development with the completion of the new Covered Loading Area (CLA2).

Standing over 10 metres high, CLA2 achieved practical completion on Friday, 7 February and is now in use. Located to the north of Building D, the 2,332 m² roof structure accommodates seven semi-trailer bays and seven heavy-ridged bays.

This new facility provides authorised Brisbane Markets® buyers with a weatherproof environment in close proximity to the Central Trading Area for loading, and an out-of-hours parking and unloading area for heavy vehicles bringing product on site.

Laying down the asphalt Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) is progressing a new stage of asphalt resurfacing works across the Brisbane Markets® site.

In total, approximately 15,000 m² of asphalt will be resurfaced as part of this project.

Works have been scheduled to occur over weekends wherever possible to minimise the impact of road closures and disruption to Markets users.

Markets community hub: United Lettuce’s Andrew Stark and George Valiotis with M &D Vegetable Specialists Principal Mark Moore.

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BML resurfaced over 19,500 m² of asphalt during 2019 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and upgrading the site’s roadways.

Building E1 takes shape The new, purpose-built J.H. Leavy & Co warehouse Building E1 has risen from the ground, becoming an impressive landmark on the Brisbane Markets® site.

By November 2019, the area had been filled with approximately 9,000 cubic metres of fill and the installation of 394 precast concrete piles was completed, representing approximately 6 km of reinforced concrete piles driven into the ground. The majority of the external retaining walls were also in place, along with the ground floor office slab and finger docks.

In December, work was completed on the new Energex substation and underground high voltage cable installation to support the power requirements of the new building. The masonry walls around the perimeter of the building were in place except for an area along the southern side, which is currently being used to provide ramp access to the building pad.

By the end of 2019, the permanent site fence was constructed along the western side of the site and in-ground services were installed, including sewer, stormwater and fire services.

In January, the erection of the structural steel frame of the building gave onlookers their first indication of the size of this new warehouse, which towers above the Sherwood Road and Martin Taylor Drive intersection.

Raising the roof: Building E1 is a commanding landmark on the corner of Sherwood Road and Martin Taylor Drive.

Bird’s eye view: An aerial photograph of the building site taken in early February.

The structural steel was raised from the northern end of the development site to the south and was progressively installed with roof sheeting as each section of the structure was completed. With the roof sheeting in place, the floor slabs were able to be poured, section by section, allowing construction to continue despite inclement weather. The majority of the main warehouse frame was completed and roofed by late-February.

Piping for new fire services to Building E1 was completed early in February and the installation of high level services,

Relationship built over 30 years In addition to the wholesalers, buyers and transporters working the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor, there are a number of support services working tirelessly behind the scenes that are just as important to this link in the fresh produce supply chain.

SBP Australia (SBPA) is currently constructing the new Building E1 warehouse and has been responsible for the delivery of a substantial number of large and small buildings and cold room projects at the Brisbane Markets® over the past 30+ years.

The specialist design, construction and maintenance company traces its origins back to 1987 when founder director Max Burns, an experienced cold room builder, began working closely with commercial builders to improve the delivery of purposebuilt cold room, warehouse and other construction projects.

Max’s relationship with the markets stretches back to the 1980s where he started custom designing cold rooms and

including fire sprinkler reticulation and refrigeration pipework, commenced in early March, followed by installation of the insulated panel walls.

The construction works are presently on schedule for completion around mid-August 2020. Once complete, the $19.5 million state-of-the-art facility will feature nine dock levellers, two finger docks, 10 fast cool rooms/ ripening rooms, 10 cold storage rooms, fumigation facilities, AQIS facilities and offices over two levels.

heavy-duty racking systems to meet the specific needs of his clients’ businesses.

“You always have different characters at the markets.

Grandfathers, fathers and sons, I’ve gotten to work with all of them over time,” said Mr Burns.

With every build he completes, Mr Burns says he is always encouraged by how much his clients want to improve their processes, business operations and allow for future growth, leading to innovative designs that are built for purpose.

“Over the last 30 years the builds have gotten bigger and the clients have gotten smarter. Everyone is pretty switched on and the logistics have vastly improved,” he said.

SBPA has also completed projects for other markets and commercial clients in Australia and overseas, as well as finding solutions for the agriculture sector, designing and delivering packing sheds, transport depots and cold room facilities for growers throughout the country.

For more information or to contact SBPA about how they can assist with your next project, visit sbpa.com.au.

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Central Markets are important links joining on e vast horticulture supply chain.

Fresh Perspectives provid es an insight into this rich and varied industry, focusi ng on the characters, and characteristics, of the wo rld of horticulture.

Celebrating 50 years of fond memories In this edition of Fresh Perspectives, we talk to five members of the markets community who have 50 years of history at Brisbane Markets®.

The Lower family has a longstanding relationship with the markets and Gary, along with his brothers Ross and Wayne, are the third generation to do business at Brisbane’s central market.

Tony Joseph reflects on his journey from country boy to patriarch of a family business and shares his memories of the significant milestones he has witnessed.

Steph West has worked for many wholesalers at Brisbane Markets®, she shares her experiences as a cashier and how the nature of her work has changed.

Entrepreneur Peter Kedwell has owned a number of market

businesses over the years and fondly remembers those who made their mark on his career.

Ted Beaton has been involved in the site since it first opened in 1964 and to mark his long association with Brisbane Markets® his son Troy reflects on his father’s legacy and what it means to him.

Forklifts, trains and automobiles For those who started at Brisbane Markets® in the late 60s, memories of their early years are dominated by the physical labour required to transport produce.

Growers would drive fruit and vegetables to the markets or load them onto trains from growing regions across Queensland and northern NSW, and transport them to shunting yards in Roma Street or South Brisbane.

A young Gary Lower (left) helps his father Bob unload watermelons from a train.

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“Blokes in their tabletop trucks would go up to railway, load the produce onto the trucks and bring them back to the market floor where we would unload them and put them in stacks,” Mr Joseph said.

“It was hard work and physically demanding. Everyone back then had a bad back from all the manual handling,” Mr Kedwell said.

In their early years at the markets, both Mr Kedwell and Mr Lower spent time loading produce from the trains. After trade, buyers would load the produce onto their trucks or utes to take back to their shops, or they would return to the trains to load produce for country distribution.

“You could have up to a hundred destinations so you would put the order for each town in the appropriate train wagon,” Mr Lower said.

Watermelons play a leading role in memories of the time, due to the hard work required to load and unload the heavy fruit multiple times by hand.

“The watermelons would all be loose in the train wagons.

You’d put the sides up on the truck and have a crew going backwards and forwards. Then you’d bring them back to the market and do it all again,” Mr Lower said.

“We used to put straw between the stacks of watermelons and load them onto the trains for Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Kedwell said.

In the 1970s all that changed, with the rise of the forklift and an increase in the volume of fresh produce coming to the markets.

“CHEP bins were introduced, starting with watermelons, and that was one of the biggest changes the markets has seen in my time,” Mr Kedwell said.

The first forklift in the markets was a memorable experience.

“I think it was a secondhand one that was bought in from overseas because they just weren’t available in Australia when they first came out. Then, very quickly, more and more arrived,” Mr Lower said.

Mr Kedwell was one of the first forklift operators, during his time at Brisbane Market Coolstore.

“There were about three forklifts and no one had pallet accounts like they do now. I’d drop the bins off, they would get packed and I would collect them again to go into cool storage,” Mr Kedwell said.

While there were just a couple of forklifts in 1970, after the 1974 flood these numbers rose dramatically and the palletisation of the markets quickly followed. As part of the flood recovery and, to adjust to the increased traffic and rise of palletisation, the infrastructure also changed. The roads were paved with bitumen, individual sections were increased in size and cold room design improved and grew to incorporate the new pallets.

By 1980 there were approximately 80 forklifts in the markets and by the 1990s that figure had more than doubled. Now there are almost 400 registered forklifts at Brisbane Markets®.

The Central Trading Area was very different in the 60s and 70s, filled with the hustle and bustle of utes and flat-bed trucks rather than the large semi-trailers and forklifts that are now common.

“It was just chock-a-block in the centre with all these little utes parked in the front,” Mr Lower said.

Ted Beaton

H.E. Heather and Co “In the 1960s I was in partnership with my Dad in a small supermarket in St George. We were members of the IG Group, the largest in Australia at the time. I was holidaying in Brisbane in October 1969 and received a surprise phone call from Dad asking if I could pop out to the markets and purchase him six boxes of tomatoes.

I had no idea where the market was, but found it the next morning and ran into Jimmy Clinch, who was so helpful.

He took me around to meet the wholesalers and we found some nice wooden cases of tomatoes at J.H. Leavy. We arranged for them to be transported to St George and they arrived the next day.

Dad called to compliment me on the quality of the tomatoes - the best he had ever seen. But he queried the $10 price tag, he’d been paying $18! He asked if I could arrange to purchase 30 boxes so he could put them on special, so I went back and got 30 boxes at $8. Dad made a killing - and then I find I’m spending my holidays purchasing all sorts of fruits for him.

After about a week of this I was telling the IG Group manager Gordon Robertson my story and he immediately asked if I would become a buyer for him, with a 20c per case commission. He made it clear I would have to sell myself to the group.

Discussing this proposition with Dad was difficult because he expected me to take over the supermarket so he could retire. But typical Dad wished me the best and away I went to Brisbane to start a new venture. Jim introduced me to Alf Chave who gave me one none-voting share to his company which allowed me to get into the markets early. Gordon arranged for an office beside him in Albion and I started in the Brisbane Market in November 1969.

I took over the purchasing for Dad and Laurie Doyle, the manager of six of Philip Leong stores in Townsville. Soon after I received a telex from Laurie requesting 100 cases of oranges size 100. This was incredible - I had only purchased six cases at most for Dad. When the oranges arrived, Laurie was over the moon with the quality and price, ordering another 100 cases within a week.

I phoned all the IG Members every week and within two year I was buying for all 54 members and 74 stores. By 1975 I was selling to some 250 stores throughout Australia with a team of 20 staff and was the largest supplier of fruit and vegetables in Australia.”

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PERSPECTIVES “Right up until the 80s, the Central Trading Area was where all the produce was unloaded and disseminated. Now 80% goes straight to individual warehouses,” Mr Kedwell said.

“There weren’t many buildings here when I started, just the Central Trading Area really. There were a couple of warehouses with big refrigerated cold rooms made of timber, nothing like what they have now,” Mrs West said.

In 1977, the Covered Unloading Area was built in the centre of the Central Trading Area and this was gradually extended over time until the new roof that covered the entire area between Buildings B, C, and D was installed in 2015, a move that was warmly welcomed.

The changing face of work Technology has played a huge role in the way work is conducted at Brisbane Markets®. Computers, mobile phones, increased security and Brismark’s Credit Service have all changed the way markets businesses operate.

Steph West Rising Sun Produce

“I finished Year 12 in 1966 and a girlfriend arranged for me to get a job in the markets. I started at R. Prosky Produce in 1967.

When I first started, it was very awkward getting to work because I didn’t drive at that stage. I had to catch a train to Corinda and then wait for a bus to get me to Rocklea. At that time of the morning, if you missed the bus or the train you’d be stuck. But there were quite a few people that lived in the area, so once I got to know people I was able to hitch a lift.

I have always been a cashier. Everywhere I have worked, I have done the same thing: receive the stock coming in, take the cash payments, enter the sales data, check the stocktake, do the banking, and send information to Brismark. When I was younger a group of girls would go out for lunch or to the movies but they don’t tend to do that sort of thing now.

When I started everything was done by hand, there were no computers or mobile phones, and we had PAX directory books for different numbers in the section. It was a nightmare learning to go from paper to computers, but now I can get a job anywhere in the markets and just slot right in.

I have worked for a lot of different businesses in the Brisbane Produce Market and since I was pretty good at cashiering I have stuck with it in every section where I have worked. I’ve never ever been without the job.

I was married in 1975 and travelled overseas in 1976.

But when we came back to Australia I was asked to come back to the markets.

Now, I work on public entry days and sometimes I am asked to serve, which I absolutely love. I know a lot of the customers and they are all really nice.

I love the hours because you finish early and still have time to do things like the shopping or medical appointments. I don’t think I could ever work somewhere else.”

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“Up until the 90s there were five office girls handling all the cashiering, invoicing and grower payments. Nowadays, there is usually only two people doing the same job. I would walk around collecting all the invoices and then we would go to the banks carrying thousands of dollars. I could have been robbed, but we thought nothing of it at the time,” Mrs West said.

The introduction of Brismark’s Credit Service in 1973 significantly changed Mrs West’s role as a cashier and the exit of the banks from the Commercial Centre in the 80s and 90s also had an effect.

“The introduction of the Credit Service was absolutely fabulous, the system is brilliant and totally changed the way we worked. When I started, you just parked anywhere. Over time, the parking has improved and your car is now protected from the weather,” Mrs West said.

Security on site has increased over time and the necessary increases in regulation has reduced the “larrikins”, the transient workers who made the Brisbane Markets® their home in its early years and are now remembered fondly as a feature of a bygone era.

“I remember a real character, he would live and work in the markets. He never wore shoes, he would move from one section to another doing odd jobs and you’d have to check any waste piles to make sure he wasn’t asleep before you got rid of them. There’s no way someone like that could work here now,” Mr Joseph said.

Larger transport carriers, mobile phones and buying habits have all played a part in reducing the number of buyers who come in person to Brisbane Markets®.

“The selling floors are probably less hectic now because of technological advancements changing the way we take orders.

While the amount of buyers in the markets may have reduced, mobile phones have changed the way we do business further reducing the buyers who have to physically come to the markets,” Mr Beaton said.

While there have been dramatic changes in the way people work, the people themselves haven’t changed much over the years. The sense of community and camaraderie is still present.

There is an ability amongst the wholesalers to maintain productive working relationships and close friendships, despite the inherent competitiveness of the job.

“The people here have always been wonderful, salt-of-theearth, good people with a dash of intrigue,” Mr Kedwell said.

“If someone gets hurt you hear about it and everyone is concerned. It’s almost like a big family, everyone wants to know what’s going on and what everyone else is doing,” Mr Lower said.

“I love meeting the people. They have always been very nice, I’ve never met anyone who has been nasty,” Mrs West said.

Mr Beaton said that building relationships with buyers was more important than ever, to secure their follow up order.

“It actually almost trumps the quality of the products.

Everyone understands that over the course of 12 months, or even within a season, you can have quality fluctuations within a brand. But a good relationship can mitigate against those ups and downs of quality. That’s been consistent over the past 50 years,” Mr Beaton said.

When you work in close quarters with your competitors and continue to do business with the same people every day, the way you deal with people makes a difference.

“You’ve got to be honest and treat people with respect, because if you don’t you won’t last long in this business,” Mr Kedwell said.

“I’ve always seen Dad be very honest in his dealings, especially in his communications with growers. He likes to be very upfront and tackle any issues head on, he doesn’t let things stew. So I have tried to emulate that in the way I work,” Mr Beaton said.

Growers remain the roots of the market, without whom wholesalers would be out of a job and Australians would be paying a lot more for imported produce. But the life of a grower has changed dramatically over the years.

“Changes in legislation and laws have resulted in growers assuming a lot more responsibility for their product,” Mr Lower said.

“Looking at our growing regions 40 years ago, you could have up to 250 growers in the region. Today, you might have up to ten growers in a region, but those ten would be growing more than the 250 did in the 70s. The volumes of produce are a lot higher than they were,” Mr Joseph said.

Additional legislation, longer growing seasons and seasonal weather changes bring increased risk for growers.

“It costs a lot of money to get the produce in the ground long before growers see their first returns – it is a big risk to take,” Mr Joseph said.

Taking control of our own destiny The acquisition of the Brisbane Markets® site from the state government in 2002 was a pivotal change, one that was a decade in the making. During the 80s, growth at Brisbane Markets® had stagnated under the state government and wholesalers were eager for more input into the direction of the site.

“The state government wouldn’t take account of our requirements and there was no long-term plan in place to guide the management of the site. It just wasn’t a very good place to do business, it was getting run down and they were doing nothing at all to modernise it,” Mr Lower said.

Tony Joseph Alfred E. Chave

“I’m the third generation of my family involved in this industry. My grandfather migrated from Lebanon around 1916 and began growing bananas and pineapples at Taylors Arm on the Mid North Coast of NSW, where my father and his family grew up. Soon after I was born, my mum and dad moved to Orange and started a fruit and vegetable wholesale business called Country Fruit Distributors.

In February 1967, we moved to Brisbane because Country Fruit Distributors wanted to source a fruit supply from Brisbane. I started working for Alec Barker at P. Erickson and Son. I worked there for over a year, then I was called up for national service and spent two and a half years in the army.

While I was away, Country Fruit Distributors purchased two businesses in the markets: W.E. Potters and Alfred E. Chave. In 1973, I returned to Australia and returned to the markets to work as a manger and fruit salesman at Potter Chave, as the combined business was known at that time.

By that point, Country Fruit Distributors had changed its name to All States Food and had grown to become the largest publicly listed fruit and vegetable business company in the Southern Hemisphere, with a presence in the Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide central markets, and a distribution network throughout central western NSW. By the time I had met my wife, Maree, my uncles and father were winding down their business so I asked if they would sell me the Alfred E. Chave component. In August 1975, Maree and I became engaged and I entered into a business partnership with her father, Simon George Snr. For 19 years, we had a wonderful partnership together, I learned a lot from Simon. He was a great mentor and partner. He was tough, but always very fair.

In 1994, when Simon decided to retire, I brought my own family into the business. My two sons Anthony and Paul, two daughters Nicole and Catherine, and Maree and I have always been very close and all of them, at one stage or another, have been involved in the running of Alfred E. Chave.

Paul came into the business immediately after school, which I never wanted them to do but Paul insisted. Anthony joined the business when he was 20. Now, they are both directors of Alfred E. Chave. Maree and I have a succession plan and we began the transition two years ago. We’re not in a hurry, we just want to make sure we get it right.”

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PERSPECTIVES Plans to buy the Brisbane Markets® site had been in consideration for at least a decade. In 1994, Landacq was formed by a majority of Brisbane Markets® wholesalers and land was purchased to provide an alternative site outside of government ownership.

“We bought a parcel of land in Yatala that we thought would make an appropriate site for a new market. In the end we had to make an ultimatum and we were very serious about it. We went to the government and told them we had land, wholesalers and money behind us,” Mr Joseph said.

Mr Lower described the decision to purchase the Rocklea site as a major life event that he will never forget and a milestone for the wholesaling sector.

Peter Kedwell Pershouse Produce

“I started at Alfred E. Chave in December 1969 when I was 15 years old. My mum raised six kids by herself in Holland Park and it was very difficult to get to the markets in the early house of the morning. I had to travel to Woolloongabba or Stones Corner first, then catch a train to Rocklea.

I nearly didn’t last more than six month because I had a dispute with someone in the office and quit. Alf Chave was an amazing man, he wrote a letter to my mother saying he thought I had a future in the industry, I was a good worker, and would she please talk to me about staying. So I stayed. He doubled my pay and organised a lift for me every day. It was absolutely amazing to have a boss that would do that for a 15 year old.

After Alf died, I went to work for Ted Beaton for a year then I moved to the Brisbane Market Coolstore, working for Wilf Stokes. Around the time of the 1974 flood, I resigned from the Coolstore to go travelling around New Zealand. When I came back, Ted asked me to set up his frozen food distribution centre and his grocery business in Murrarie. When he sold that business I returned to the markets to work for H.E. Heather and Co, which I did until I got married and started my own business in July 1981.

“I remember going home afterwards and thinking this is beyond my wildest dreams. It goes to show that if you can find the right people, they can figure out a way to do anything,” Mr Lower said.

After pressure from wholesalers, the Beattie state government put the Brisbane Markets® site to tender, and in 2002 Landacq’s $73.85 million bid for the site was successful.

“It has been absolutely wonderful. It was a huge change in mentality from just maintaining the assets to what it is now, which is to look after, nurture and grow the site,” Mr Kedwell said.

Industry-based ownership and strong leadership has been a key component of the success of Brisbane Markets Limited (BML), as Landacq is now known, and close constructive ties with major shareholder Brismark has led to industry-driven improvements across the site.

“BML was born from a necessity for us, as wholesalers, to control our own destiny. Brismark and BML work very well together and both Brismark and wholesaler interests are very well represented on the BML board,” Mr Beaton said.

Mr Lower and Mr Beaton highlighted the importance of Brismark as a collective and effective voice for its membership, a role it has played for 79 years.

“Not only does Brismark provide services to all its members, it also provides a voice for all the wholesalers whether it’s dealing with the government on Horticulture Code of Conduct issues or dealing with BML as landlords. As joint CEO of both Brismark and BML, Andrew runs each organisation at arm’s length from each other and I think he wears both hats brilliantly,” Mr Beaton said.

All up I think I’ve had over 14 businesses at Brisbane Markets® and I think I’ve had a warehouse in most buildings on site! The key to any business you have got to be fulfilling a need, if you are not fulfilling a need then you’re on the way out.

There is a sense of pride amongst the wholesalers at what has been achieved since taking over the site 18 years ago.

In life, you really need good role models and mentors.

From the very first moment of my working career I was lucky to find them. Alf Chave for giving me the opportunity and my first manager Sid Mann - a great salesman. There was also Arch Martin, Murray Livingston and my longest serving business partner in the Brisbane Markets®, David Pershouse.

“BML spends millions of dollars on the site and its infrastructure. They invest a lot of money into projects that Brismark is interested in. They support the retailers and advertising campaigns. At the end of the day, BML are our landlord, but I consider them to be a relatively friendly landlord,” Mr Beaton said.

But the most important one is Ted Beaton, who has had a number of businesses and great success at the markets over the years. Ted is a very astute and lovely man, he was my hero. He is honest, hardworking and he taught me how to be tough.”

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“The site and some of its buildings may be 50 years old, but we have been able to transition into a modern markets community,” Mr Joseph said.

Since the inception of BML, growth has increased exponentially. Often, these changes go unnoticed because potential issues are fixed before they become a problem to the markets community.

“People don’t see problems, because we’ve already fixed them before they become an issue. As a board, we are thinking ahead all the time and future-proofing the site,” Mr Joseph said.

“You can see the changes we’ve had in recent years, the undercover area in the Central Trading Area has been completed, new warehouses are going up. Brisbane Markets® was very stagnant for 30 years and now we are seeing a lot of changes, because BML as an organisation is getting stronger and they’re investing more,” Mr Beaton said.

Hope for the future There is a palpable sense of excitement for the future of the industry, both from young blood entering the wholesaling business and consumer who continue to eat Australian fruit and vegetables.

Mr Beaton and Mr Kedwell both commented on the higher standing the markets now have in the community, driven by a thirst for knowledge in the consumer.

“In the old days the markets didn’t have a lot of prestige” Mr Kedwell said. “Now consumers love to know about their fresh produce: where it comes from, the people who have grown it, how far it has travelled.”

“In the past, the salesmen had a bad reputation – they were seen as being a bit dodgy or not looking after the best interest of the buyer. Now, there is honesty because they have to meet the buyers’ expectation to get follow up orders – building relationships with your buyers is much more important now,” Mr Beaton said.

While they may have reduced their involvement in their businesses, Mr Joseph, Ted Beaton and Mr Kedwell keep returning to the markets for the friendships they have built over the past 50 years.

“I won’t get the chance to miss anything because I’ll end up dying in here. Even though I’ve nearly completed the handover of the business to my sons, it is the people I enjoy so I will keep coming back,” Mr Joseph said.

Mrs West is semi-retired and only works two days a week, an arrangement that suits her lifestyle.

“When I finally retire, I won’t miss getting up early, but I will miss all the people and the ease of working here. You aren’t stuck in a little office chained to your keyboard. You can move around and I just love the atmosphere, it’s brilliant,” Mrs West said.

Everyone who has reached 50 years at Brisbane Markets® agrees: the future is in good hands.

Celebrating 50 years of service Have you, or someone you know, worked at Brisbane Markets® for over 50 years? Brisbane Markets Limited is calling people who have worked at the markets for 50 years, so they can be honoured appropriately. Please email admin@brisbanemarkets.com.au with details so that we can add them to the 50 Year Service list.

Wayne, Ross and Gary Lower

Gary Lower J. Allen Pty Ltd

“As a school boy, I would come in with my father Bob Lower who had a fruit shop in Kenmore. I’d walk around with a trolley, picking up purchases, helping him load and then he would drop me off at school. I’m actually the third generation – my grandfather was an interstate merchant trader who operated out of Building H. Working at the markets is all I know, I came straight out of high school. My family had a transport business for about 15 years and then we got the opportunity to purchase J. Allen’s in 1980.

We recently had our 40 year anniversary.

It is very much a family business, the whole family has worked in it at one stage or another.

My two brothers, Ross and Wayne, started at the markets about five years after I did and they are actively involved in the business to this day. It is their support that allows me to be active on the Brismark board. I enjoy the industry and have never regretted being here. My family has done very well out of it and it has provided for our kids and grandkids.

When I’m interviewing people for a job at J. Allen, I tell them if you don’t like getting out of the bed at 2am or your family can’t manage you leaving home in the early hours of the morning, then the job won’t be suitable. These are the things you have to take into consideration.

I have always gotten up in the early hours of the morning so it is just the norm for me now, but I do like that you get home fairly early in the afternoon.

But it does impact your social life and you have to have an understanding family and partner, I’ve been very fortunate in that regard. There’s a hard fast pace at the markets and you have got to be able to think on your feet. Those who like it, love it, and those who don’t, leave.”

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Customers cruise into stores to win big The winners of the A Better Choice (ABC)/Your Local Fruit Shop (YLFS) Cruise Into Summer campaign have a dream holiday ahead of them.

Sam Thaiday, ABC/YLFS ambassador, had the pleasure of announcing the winners of the competition, which was conducted through over 70 participating independent retailers throughout Queensland in late 2019.

Mr Thaiday said the competition focused on encouraging customers to support family-owned businesses that can provide them with fresh, quality produce, and in-depth knowledge.

“Shopping at your local fruit shop is a better choice, as store owners are the first to know what is in season or how crops are impacted by growing conditions,’ Mr Thaiday said.

“They handpick the best produce, ready to serve their valued customers throughout

the year. This makes Your Local Fruit Shop … A Better Choice all round.”

The campaign’s focus was to highlight the benefits of eating fresh, seasonal produce for greater health and wellbeing, encouraging consumers of all ages to shop for quality produce at the freshest source: Your Local Fruit Shop.

P&O Cruise winner Caitlin Oehlman (centre) receives her prize from the team at Erbacher Fruit & Poultry.

Attracting over 40,000 entries, the top two prizes of a P&O Cruise for four were won by a thrilled Cheryl Amor and Caitlin Oehlman, both from the Sunshine Coast. Cheryl and Caitlin were presented with their prizes and a beach travel bag filled with goodies at their participating fruit shops, Caloundra Village Fruit Market and Erbacher Fruit & Poultry on Tuesday, 17 December 2019.

Another ten customers with winning entries received a gift voucher to spend on a cooking class or an experience of their choice and another twenty lucky winners each received a $50 movie voucher.

Cruising into Summer: The team at Caloundra Village Fruit Market present Cheryl Amor (centre) with her prize.

Cherrishing the season There’s more to cherries than just Christmas.

That was the message of the recent 100 Days to Cherrish campaign, an A Better Choice/Your Local Fruit Shop project with Cherry Growers Australia through Hort Innovation.

Highlighting the November to February Australian cherry season, the campaign promoted the versatile fruit throughout South East Queensland to broaden people’s perception of cherries from only being eaten on Christmas and demonstrate how they can be enjoyed during the whole summer season.

100 Days to Cherrish ambassador Rebecca Fodden (left) getting the public cherishing cherries at Superior Fruit at Graceville.

100 Days to Cherrish was made possible by the generous support of Cherries Australia and wholesalers Matt Spencer (Carter & Spencer), Luke Goody (Central Park Produce), Viny Byrne (Favco), Pierre Tannouei (La Manna Premier), Troy Marland (Marland Mushroom), and Stephen Edwards (Murray Bros).

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RETAILING

A very special Christmas outing Staff from Brismark and Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) took part in a special event in the lead up to Christmas.

The Special Children’s Christmas Party, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the biggest event of its kind in Australia for special needs children and their families.

The children invited to the party suffer from either serious illnesses, physical or intellectual impairment, domestic violence, or live in underprivileged circumstances.

On Saturday, 30 November, volunteers from Brismark and BML handed out tubs of A Better Choice/Your Local Fruit Shop branded fresh fruit salad. They also handed out store location information and fresh produce guides.

Thanks to the generous donations from wholesalers at the Brisbane Produce Market (Ireland 53’s Gary Vedelago, Lind & Sons’ David Weeks, Ross & Co.’s Mike Forsey and Theo Lathouras, J.H. Leavy & Co.’s Ben Bartlett) and the preparing and cutting of fruit by In Fruit’s Mark Murphy, the team was able to offer the fruit salad tubs to the over 3,000 children and parents who attended the event.

Making Christmas special: Marcus Hird (on right) with Schadd and his dad at the Special Children’s Christmas Party.

The rise of the plant-based diet A plant-based diet is characterised by eating most or all foods derived from plants including fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, seeds and legumes. This trending diet emphasises using fresh ingredients, as close to their original state as possible, for overall wellness and healthy lifestyle. So, is plant-based diet just a buzzword? And what does it mean for the fresh produce industry?

According to research by Roy Morgan in 2019, many Australians are increasingly adopting the plant-based diet as an important lifestyle choice. These Aussies believe that food centred on whole plants aids in weight management, prevents chronic diseases, improves heart health and has a lighter environmental footprint. There is growing recognition of the association between food, health and environment. The Australian fresh produce industry must respond to consumer demand to reap the benefits of consumers going plant based.

zucchini noodles or cauliflower steaks. This helps consumers indulge in plant-based, flavourful meals without guilt.

Changing lifestyle Having a great product is not enough these days, pressures such as lack of time and eating habits in consumers have posed challenges to the produce industry. In addition, consumers demand mouthfeel, flavour, texture and equivalent nutrients (as meat) in their meals. Just like medicine and technology, the fresh produce industry needs to be more innovative to provide consumers with the convenience to stick to plant-based meals with fruit and vegetable choices.

All year-round availability Australia is a unique country with diverse food choices.

More than ever, consumers are demanding the year-round availability of fruits and vegetables of consistent good quality.

This means investing in stable crops and water security to be able to produce core products all year, like sweet potatoes and apples.

Focus and satisfaction Accentuate each desirable benefits of fruit and vegetables instead of categorising them as healthy, organic or delicious.

For example, focus on educating the consumer about the vitamin C content in tangerines, protein in broccoli and water percentage in cucumber. Similarly, creators of produce recipes should cater to all diets to provide an inclusive indulgent experience such as guilt-free cherry dessert, nutrient-rich

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Eating plants: Many Australians are now turning to a plant-based diet for health and environmental reasons.

A Better Choice! just got a whole lot better!

The A Better Choice! (ABC) National Retail Program is a collaboration between Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) and the Central Markets Association of Australia (CMAA) that promotes the independent retail sector that sells fruit and vegetables purchased through Australia’s Central Markets.

The latest national campaign “GO TO THOSE WHO KNOW!” positions it’s members as THE source of information, knowledge and great advice when it comes to everything fruit and vegetables. Not only do they know fresh fruit and vegetables, but they know their customers as well. ABC Retailers pride themselves and their business on service, quality and expertise.

From late March through to the end of May consumers will see television advertising depicting a Your Local Fruit Shop fruiterer rejecting poor quality fruit. Your Local Fruit Shop retailers will only accept fresh quality produce in their store! Local independent fruit and vegetable retailers are the experts on quality fruit and vegetables and consumers should shop at Local Fruit Shops…. It’s A Better Choice! The advertisements will be featured on programs such as the Today Show, Nine News early and morning editions, Travel Guides, and The Block.

Find your local at www.abetterchoice.com.au

abetterchoiceaus

@abetterchoiceaus

Skilled visas widen labour options Australia’s horticulture employers will now receive more support to resolve labour shortages with the signing of a new Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement (HILA).

The new agreement means growers will have access to a skilled and semi-skilled workforce, where they can demonstrate there are no local workers able or willing to fill them.

Horticultural employers can submit an application to the Department of Home Affairs to sponsor a migrant worker to come to Australia and fill one of the 31 approved occupations listed under the Labour Agreement.

Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement provides access to three visas. The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS, subclass 482) visa is a temporary skilled visa that permits a stay of up to four years. The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR, subclass 494) visa is provisional, permitting a stay of five years with a permanent residency pathway available after three years. There is also a permanent skilled visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS, subclass 186).

target of $100 billion by 2030.

“Growers always prefer to employ local skilled workers, but there are considerable barriers in accessing them, from a lack of vocational and higher education opportunities in this space, to a lack of horticulture technical expertise in Australia.”

Citrus Australia CEO, Nathan Hancock, said HILA was a positive move and would enable growers to continue producing the world’s best fruit in a highly competitive global environment.

“When citrus businesses are unable to source the professional labour they need from within Australia, the HILA will enable them to find skilled people to fill positions in areas of management, specialist computing equipment, electricians, pest scouts and agronomists, amongst others,” Mr Hancock said.

You can download Ausveg’s advice to growers, including the full list of occupational categories, here: https://bit.ly/2ui5OhK.

It complements existing migration programs to support regional employers and communities, including the Working Holiday Maker Programme, Seasonal Worker Programme, the Pacific Labour Scheme and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).

Ausveg Chief Executive Officer, James Whiteside said the HILA was another step towards addressing the horticulture industry’s labour shortages.

“Horticulture growers, not just those in the vegetable industry, need a skilled workforce to use sophisticated technologies to efficiently plant, harvest and package their products to local and international consumers,” Mr Whiteside said.

“Horticulture businesses require skilled people to undertake technical and highly-skilled jobs to help drive their businesses, and the wider $13 billion horticulture industry, forward in what is a critical juncture for Australian agriculture to reach its

New work visas for semi-skilled and skilled labourers are now available under the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement.

Harvest period

Labour Gap

Suitable visa program

Less than 3 months

Lower-skilled

Working Holiday Maker

3-9 months

Lower-skilled

Seasonal Worker Program

9+ months

Lower-skilled

Pacific Labour Scheme

12+ months

Semi-skilled & skilled

Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement

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Warm welcome for new Bowen Gumlu representative

By Eilis Walker, Industry Development Officer, Bowen Gumlu Growers Association

Having only started as Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (BGGA)’s Industry Development Officer a few months ago, I would like to take this time to reflect on the Bowen-Gumlu growers’ community that I have been so warmly welcomed into.

Collectively we grow For me, ‘Collectively We Grow’ is now more than just a catchy slogan.

The words embody the community of horticultural producers that thrive and produce quality produce in the BowenGumlu area. From growers looking at beneficial bugs and bees, those who are interested in the soil, and those who are always pushing for the development and implementation of new technologies to make farms safer and more productive, I have been immersed in a rapidly growing and striving industry.

The point that I reflect upon most is that while there are many different facets of horticulture, every individual, family and business that I have met so far has invested their own money, time and energy into ensuring the longevity and sustainability of the industry. To me, ‘Collectively We Grow’ is synonymous

with the efforts that growers have put into this region and their industry.

Reef regulations Having such a positive experience in the sector and region brings mixed feelings about the implementation of Reef Regulations or the Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019. As custodians of this land, growers in the Bowen Gumlu area play a vital role in ensuring the sustainability of both the land that is farmed and the Great Barrier Reef. Since the 1900s when growing first began in the region, this entrusted position has seen many growers challenge and change practices to remain environmentally sustainable.

BGGA fears that without proper and correct implementation, these regulations would have a significant impact on the sector. BGGA has concerns over the one-size-fits-all approach that may be taken and, with over a hundred commodities being grown in the region, the impediments to crop production as well as a lack of financial support for growers to

implement on-ground practice change.

BGGA encourages producers to become familiar with the information surrounding reef regulations and what this means for their businesses to begin to plan for the future.

Market introduction: Eilis Walker finds some local Bowen produce during her tour of the Brisbane Produce Market in November 2019.

Fair Farms initiative hits century One hundred growers and other horticulture businesses from across Australia have joined the industry-developed Fair Farms Training and Certification Program since its launch in June 2019.

“Fair Farms aims to have a critical mass of ethical suppliers certified against the Fair Farms Standard, so wholesalers and retailers can make the switch and start sourcing their fresh produce only from verified ethical businesses.

Fair Farms Program Manager, Thomas Hertel, said Growcom was rolling out Fair Farms on behalf of industry in a bid to show who is doing the right thing and use market forces to drive out unethical and unlawful employment practices.

“Australian grown, Fair Farms certified, all the way to the grower level is what we’re working towards. When retailers and the consumer buy into that and reward ethical compliance, we expect to see real positive impact on the treatment of workers on farms.”

“Of the businesses registered to date, 60 have already completed the self-assessment against the Fair Farms Standard to identify areas for improvement,” Mr Hertel said.

To find out more about how to get Fair Farms certified visit www.fairfarms.com.au or email fairfarms@growcom.com.au.

Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE 33

Industry

Paradise Dam a top priority for Bundaberg growers

By Bree Grima, Managing Director, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Paradise Dam advocacy continues to take precedence in the Wide Bay/ Bundaberg with decisions by State Government to lower the dam wall expected to have a severe impact on producers in the region (see page 7 for more detail).

Dam’s fate undecided The Industry is not prepared to sit back and await the outcome of decisions made by government. Our immediate concern is that any works to lower the spillway and reduce the overall storage capacity of Paradise Dam will reduce water security for local irrigators and have a significant impact on the economic viability of the Wide Bay region.

Any decision about the future of Paradise Dam needs to be based on the facts in relation to engineering and public safety as well as water security and economic impacts.

To this end Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers (BFVG) has jointly

commissioned an economic impact study, which will be shared with Sunwater, state government and Building Queensland, to quantify the regional benefits of a strong and sustainable agricultural sector now and in the future.

BFVG also intends to provide information from Dr Paul Rizzo, Chief Technical Officer from specialist engineering firm RIZZO International, who is assessing possible remediation options including some which may not already have been considered. Dr Rizzo’s study will also include an independent review of Sunwater’s technical reports on Paradise Dam by GHD and Tatro Hinds.

US-based Dr Rizzo has more than 50 years’ experience in geotechnical and civil engineering, specifically dams, water resources and infrastructure projects. He is an international expert in the field of safety evaluations and rehabilitation of dams.

Protesters at the Commission of Inquiry in Bundaberg. IMAGE: Good Fruit & Vegetables

Water security gives the Wide Bay region a critical competitive advantage for agricultural production, and whatever decision is made about the future of Paradise Dam needs to protect that position and support community safety as well as our economic prosperity.

Poulain takes on mushroom role The Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) has appointed a new Relationship and General Manager, Martine Poulain, who brings to her new role over 20 years of experience in peak industry bodies and associations.

“I started with AMGA at a time where the mushroom growers were feeling the pain of low prices for mushrooms at retail – with peaks and troughs in production significantly impacting on price and returns,” Ms Poulain said.

This key appointment marks the next stage of the Association’s strategy to drive value to its members.

According to Ms Poulain, the drought has created higher demand for wheaten straw which in turn has driven up the price of compost, an integral ingredient for growing mushrooms.

“At the heart of it, the role is still one of understanding the needs of membership and ensuring the Association remains relevant and plays its part in the future development of the industry,” Ms Poulain said.

Her most recent roles have been in peak bodies for the commercial construction industry, and she welcomes the new challenge of working within the horticultural and agricultural space.

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“What I have found, in the short amount of time I’ve been in the role, is that our mushroom growers are a unique group,” she said.

“They work together, even though they are all competitors in a small niche industry. This is something I have never come across in an industry body. I’m thrilled to be able to work with growers who work together as one industry.”

New Mushroom Growers Relationship and General Manger, Martine Poulain.

Making lemonade out of lemons

By Gail Woods, General Manager, Brismark

They say the first step in managing a crisis is to ‘avoid’ the crisis. But what do you do when the World Health Organisation declares a global pandemic?

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted not only on communities around the globe but on businesses of all sizes. The important actions any business must take to manage a crisis is to do what must be done to be prepared for a crisis. In the case of COVID-19 the impacts have been occurring on a daily basis.

Contingency planning has proven to be essential as well as maintaining two-way communication flows with all of the groups of people – stakeholders – that have an impact on your business. You can’t control everything but you can respond appropriately. Detailed crisis-response plans outline a course of action that can be taken, this is helpful particularly when working under pressure.

The next step in managing a crisis is to recognise that you are in a crisis. Accept that your business and its operations may be affected and act accordingly.

Reliable sources of information that outline the extent of the crisis as it unfolds are important to monitor, such as regular Government health warnings and announcements.

As an organisation identify how your operations may be impacted and then identify ways to reduce their likelihood.

In this case having the knowledge about ways to prevent the spread of infection and acting on it is an important directive to communicate to all stakeholders including staff. Comprehensive work health and safety policies, procedures and practices provide a strong framework for ensuring continuity of operations.

When communication with internal and external stakeholders is appropriate, have your spokesperson step-up and

New chair for new alliance Perfection Fresh CEO Michael Simonetta has been elected Chair of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA).

Launched in March 2019, the AFPA’s membership consists of Perfection Fresh, Costa Group, Fresh Select, Mackays, Montague, One Harvest, LaManna Premier Group, Freshmax, Rugby Farms, Driscoll’s, Pinata Farms, Mitolo Group, 2PH Farms and Fresh Produce Group.

Mr Simonetta has been CEO of Perfection Fresh for 30 years and takes over from inaugural AFPA Chair Harry Debney of Costa Group.

“During the past year, Harry Debney has been instrumental in leading the formation and creating the foundation of the AFPA. Harry has set up the AFPA for ongoing success and, on behalf of the AFPA Board, I would like to thank Harry for all his efforts,” Mr Simonetta said.

“We have only been in operation for one year and have achieved a number of outcomes including holding regular retail roundtables with major retailers to discuss packaging and food waste; creating a reference group made up of our HR General Managers to further industry employment issues; and producing a White Paper outlining a strategy to grow the value of the fresh produce industry to $20 billion by 2030.”

speak on behalf of your business. Make sure the most senior individual of the organisation is the spokesperson as they can address the problem directly.

By setting your organisational goals and managing the crisis, an organisation can make sure its operations continue.

Organisationally, Brismark’s objective is to maintain the uninterrupted provision of services to our members and support the operation of the markets, 24 hours a day seven days a week. This effort will continue until the crisis is resolved or the impact lessens.

If these steps are followed, a business can go a long way to recouping its crisis-related losses and possibly profit from disaster through enhanced responsiveness and strong leadership.

Follow these steps and you can make lemonade out of lemons.

Mangoes industry get social Australian Mangoes has launched an industry Facebook page: Australian Mangoes–Industry. The page provides the organisation with another way to keep mango industry stakeholders up-to-date with industry news and information.

You can find industry Facebook page by visiting www.facebook.com/australianmangoes/ or by searching for @australianmangoes within Facebook. The Aussie Mangoes Facebook page, which is aimed at consumers, is run separately

by Hort Innovation.

If you have any feedback or would like to share something with the page, contact Australian Mangoes Communication Manager, Jessica Mitchell, on com@mangoes.net.au.

Look for logo: The logo used as the profile picture on the new Facebook page for the mango industry.

Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE 35

New lychees tipped to grow exports to Taiwan The trial of new varieties of Taiwanese lychees in Central Queensland represents a significant step towards facilitating export of the fruit to Asian markets.

The step was taken during a visit

by Taiwan Council of Agriculture (CoG) Deputy Minister Dr JJ Chen in late 2019, which cemented a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and CoG. The MoU, which was signed in 2016 during a Trade and Investment Queensland delegation to Taiwan, gives the Australian Lychee Growers Association exclusive access to six new ‘super varieties’ of lychees from the Taiwan Agricultural and Research Institute, a world leader in lychee research and development.

With very limited space for agriculture, Taiwan decided to link with international partners to increase lychee production and create year-round supply. Growing the lychees in Queensland means they could be in season for much longer. Fruit would be harvested in Queensland between November and February, and in Taiwan between May and August.

During his visit to Queensland, Dr Chen attended a tree-planting ceremony for the new lychee varieties at Groves Grown Tropical Fruit farm in Yeppoon and also took the time to visit Brisbane Markets®.

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Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, said the planting represented both a significant physical and symbolic milestone in the horticulture research relationship between Queensland and Taiwan.

“These new Taiwanese varieties of lychees are an exciting development that hopefully results in opening the door for Queensland producers to increased export market share as well as supplying the Australian domestic market,” Ms Lauga said.

“For example, one of the varieties, ‘Rose Red’, is a large lychee with a slightly rose fragrance, has a better shelf life and is easier to peel giving it great appeal as an export variety.”

Taiwanese lychee planting: From left, Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Bill Ludwig, Taiwan Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Dr JJ Chen, Groves Grown Tropical Fruit owner Ian Groves plant a Taiwanese lychee tree while Australian Lychee Growers Association President Derek Foley looks on.

IMAGE: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said exporting lychees to Asia was a long-term program of work.

“It is expected the trees will take approximately three years to grow before DAF can begin to evaluate which varieties are best to grow and are commercially viable. Then it could take eight to ten years before significant volumes can be grown in Queensland,” Mr Furner said.

“If the lychees do well in Queensland conditions, Australian growers and Taiwan could then consider a joint project to export to other Asian countries.”

Super lychees trialled: six varities of Taiwanese lychees are being trialled in Central Queensland in a bid to increase export opportunities in Taiwan and other Asian countries.

Securing freight access for Australian agricultural and fisheries exporters A new $110 million initiative will back Australia’s agricultural and fisheries sector by helping them export their high-quality produce into key overseas markets, with return flights bringing back vital medical supplies, medicines and equipment.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the International Freight Assistance Mechanism would help secure freight flights into Australia’s key export markets.

“This will help restore key freight routes for our farmers until commercial capacity can be restored again,” Mr McCormack said.

“We are doing everything possible to help our high-value agricultural and fisheries exporters get their produce on airplanes and into overseas markets.

“Everything we are doing as a Government in response to this pandemic is focused on saving lives and saving livelihoods and we know our agriculture industry is key to this.”

CEO of the Australian Horticultural Exporters’ and Importers’ Association (AHEIA), Andréa Magiafoglou, welcomed the news.

“The AHEIA is extremely pleased to see the release of this funding package and anticipate it will contribute towards alleviating the challenges industry has been facing in both reduced airfreight capacity and escalating costs,” Ms Magiafoglou said.

“We look forward to working with Mr Byrne, Austrade and all industry groups to develop commercially viable options for fresh produce exporters and support international food security at this difficult time.”

The initiative is part of the Government’s $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund to support regions, communities and industry sectors that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the COVID-19 pandemic had led to major air freight shortages and had disrupted supply chains around the world.

“This temporary action will help Australian producers to protect the jobs of those who rely upon Australia’s export of safe, quality food into the world,” Minister Birmingham said.

“Getting our export sector back on its feet is crucial to reduce job losses through the crisis and a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery.”

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism will initially focus on the key markets of China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the UAE, with four key departure hubs: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

It will be overseen by Mr Michael Byrne, who has been appointed as the International Freight Coordinator General.

Mr Byrne has significant international logistics experience as Managing Director of Australia’s two largest logistics companies Toll Holdings and Linfox plus as a non-executive director of Australia Post.

Mr Byrne will work with Austrade to help establish arrangements with exporters, airlines, freight forwarders and industry bodies plus oversee the mechanism’s operations including advising the Government of destinations, freight selection and prioritisation.

With export transport options dwindling due to the COVID-19 crisis, the federal government has allocated $110 million to secure airfreight for Australia’s agricultural industries.

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Autumn 2020 FRESH SOURCE 37

Export

Never a dull moment for our horticultural exporters

By Andréa Magiafoglou, CEO, Australian Horticultural Exporters’ and Importers’ Association

The sector has had much to deal with over the last few months with ongoing drought and bushfires impacting key production areas. To overlay this, fresh produce exporters have other challenges in play, namely coronavirus, export certification cost increases and hurdles in the Indonesian import application process.

Coronavirus impacts Chinese trade As many of you would be well aware, China is the number one export destination, receiving approximately 30% of all fresh fruit exports. Trade following the Chinese New Year is typically subdued, therefore a clearer impact of the coronavirus on Australian exports will become more evident in oncoming weeks.

Airfreight capacity has been greatly reduced with direct air services between mainland China and Australia suspended from 9 February until 29 March 2020.

Sea freight is still a shipping option; however, concerns exist with the logistics of moving product within China.

Many exporters are currently looking to distribute product to other destinations, although some commodities are limited by the number of market access

pathways available to them. Despite these concerns, the Australian dollar is low, and the quality of Australian produce is excellent which bolsters the opportunities afforded to Australian exporters looking to establish trading relationships within other markets.

Certification faces cost increase Another hurdle for Australian exporters moving forward are the fee and levy increases for export certification proposed by the DAWE. These changes will have a varying impact on individual exporters based on business structure, export destination, commodity type, volume and value. Overall, they represent a massive 40% increase from current export certification costs.

The Australian Horticultural Exporters’ and Importers’ Association has united with ten other peak horticultural industry bodies in opposing these changes. This united voice across horticulture represented the majority of fresh horticultural exporters in Australia and we wait to hear the DAWE response to our submission. Alongside this, we also await the release of the Independent Review into Export Certification by Ernst & Young, who were commissioned by the department.

Gap closed on Indonesian exports On to Indonesia; towards the end of 2019, it came to our attention that the revised regulations for the Recommendations to Import Horticultural Product (RIPH) by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture had resulted in many rejections of importers’ RIPH applications. Obtaining an RIPH from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Directorate-General of Horticulture is a prerequisite for obtaining an import license from the Ministry of Trade for many horticultural commodities.

The new conditions mainly revolve around GAP certification. Since then, we are happy to report that the revised regulations have been amended, which now eliminates GAP, GHP, and exporter capacity statement for those origins with food safety Country Recognition Agreement (CRA), which Australia has with Indonesia.

However, some delays were still being felt with a backlog of applications by importing companies that, whilst approved by the Indonesian DirectorateGeneral of Agriculture, were still awaiting the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture’s signature.

Blueberries miss export opportunities Growers have expressed frustration at delays in negotiating export market access to China for Australian blueberries.

Berries Australia President, Peter McPherson said blueberries have been second on the Australian Government’s China horticultural export market access priority list after apples since October 2017, with an initial application lodged in 2010.

A 2017 report commissioned by the Australian Blueberry Growers Association revealed an existing and growing Chinese demand for Australian blueberries due to their superior taste, size, food safety and nutritional value.

“It is very frustrating for the industry knowing that we have a superior product to have to sit by and watch on as a number of other countries have negotiated access for their blueberries into China,” Mr McPherson said.

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Only Tasmanian blueberries can be exported to China due to fruit fly and medfly concerns.

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