The Passion Vine
The Passion Vine – March 2013
Post Office Box 321 Pomona QLD 4568
Executive Report
Having done the call around to growers in the various areas, the worst hit have been Bundaberg and Northern NSW with posts snapped putting vines on the ground and fruit and flowers stripped from vines that have stayed upright. Far North Queensland reported business as usual as the rain was no different to their usual weather pattern. Even though it is still early in the year, the PAI Executive and the IAC have met and had very constructive sessions to ensure that the industry has a very proactive marketing campaign for the next 12 months, aligning the research projects to industry objectives and initiating a few new projects to help growers protect their vines and increase their production values.
March 2013 Newsletter of Passionfruit Australia Incorporated
By Jann Bonsall The festive season has been celebrated, Australia Day havoc has been wreaked along the Queensland coast and parts of the inland, NSW has been slammed twice in a few weeks, the Sunshine Coast has had another drenching and as I write Bundaberg is facing another deluge. And what did I say in December…? I never thought I’d hear people praying for rain. Well, all the prayers have been answered … maybe too many!
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There was an email sent out at the end of February for growers who are affected by mites to send in some samples so they can be clearly identified and the most effective pest control measures be drawn up. If you have a problem with mites, collect a sample of affected leaves, wrap in a slightly damp paper towel and place it in a clip lock bag, seal it and then place it inside another clip lock bag to ensure containment. To avoid crushing in the post, pack in a small box and address the sample to Cherie Gambley and Andrew Manners at Horticulture Pathology, DAFFQ, Ecosciences Precinct, GPO Box 267, Brisbane QLD 4001. If anyone has any questions you’re welcome to give me a call. The Executive also took part in a Crisis Management Workshop conducted by Richard Bennett from Horticulture Australia and as an outcome of that workshop, work is currently being undertaken to make sure ALL members of Passionfruit Australia are aware of how to respond should a crisis affect the passionfruit industry in any adverse way. That information will be made available to growers within the next few months.
I’m in the process of organising a Directors’ training workshop which ensures that the Executive are all aware of their responsibilities upholding the governance of Passionfruit Australia Inc. This type of training has become increasingly important due to the escalation of compliance from DAFF through Horticulture Australia. The Annual General Meeting, Annual Levy Payers’ Meeting and Field Day will be held in Cairns (and environs), Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August 2013. More information will be available once venues and Field Day activities are finalised. And after long and protracted discussions with DAFF Q (previously DEEDI/DPI QLD), PAI now have copies of the second edition of The passionfruit growing guide available and the Problem Solver Field Guide WILL be printed in the next month and be available through PAI. More information later in the newsletter.
Hoping that all the growers and our supply chain partners have a chance to enjoy Easter with their family and friends, and as a result of all the rain, we have production of quality passionfruit rewarding all the hard work and frustration in between.
The Passion Vine – March 2013
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Association Address PO Box 321 Pomona QLD 4568. Mobile 0418 883 753 Email admin@passionfruitaustralia.org.au
Executive Committee President Keith Paxton 38 Atkinsons Road, Woombye, QLD 4559 Phone (07) 5445 9387 Fax (07) 5445 9323 Email kipaxton@bigpond.com
Executive Officer (Secretary/Treasurer) Jann Bonsall PO Box 321 Pomona QLD 4568 Phone 07 5485 4402 Email admin@passionfruitaustralia.org.au
Vice President Ian Constable “Nunderry” 260 Boyds Lane Dulguigan via Murwillumbah NSW 2484 Phone / Fax (02) 6672 6826 Mobile 0428 181 246 Email ianconstable11@bigpond.com
PAI FEES New Grower or Processor Membership fee : $187 incl GST, joining fee and lobby fees Grower or Processor Membership renewal : $143 incl GST and lobby fees. Other classes (Nurseryman, seller, agent or associate) : $231 incl GST and lobby fees. Memberships run with the Fiscal year from July 1st to June 30th each year irrespective of date joined. Membership lapses if not renewed within three months of end of the fiscal year. Plant Royalties are due on propagation or purchase of all PAI varieties - Fees are payable to PAI executive officer : $0.35 per plant for PAI members, otherwise $0.70 for all non-members.
Committee Members President Vine Committee Steve Gray Vixies Road, Wonga Beach, QLD 4873 Phone / Fax (07) 4098 7202 Email steve_trish2@bigpond.com.au
Member Peter Griffiths 408 Dahl’s Road, Calavos, QLD 4670 Phone/Fax (07) 4159 7394 Mobile 0429 656 922 Email peteandsally4@bigpond.com Member Sean Russell (JE Tippers) PO Box 27, Brisbane Markets, QLD 4006 Phone (07) 3379 1041 Fax (07) 3379 4817 Mobile 0418 158 331 Email sean@jetipper.com.au Member William Wise 131 Cranneys Road, North Tumbulgum, NSW 2490 Phone (02) 6676 6099 Email libmcq@hotmail.com Member Tina McPherson 15 Zinks Road, Bundaberg, QLD 4670 Phone (07) 4159 3001 Fax (07) 4155 6744 Mobile 0428 415 930 Email tina@tinaberries.com.au
Member Jim Gordon PO Box 119, Yandina, QLD 4561 Phone (07) 5446 7536 Fax (07) 5446 7524 Mobile 0403 185 961 Email jill_88@msn.com
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Passionfruit Australia Incorporated Industry Advisory Committee PH: 07 3374 0453 Mob: 0413 101 646 Email: diannefullelove@optusnet.com.au
Dianne Fullelove
Chairperson PO Box 913, Kenmore, QLD 4069
Jane Wightman
HAL Suite 2, Level 5, 87 Wickham Terrace Spring Hill, QLD 4000
Peter Rigden
QLD Government DAFF, Maroochy Research Station, PO Box 5083, SCMC, QLD 4560
Cherie Gambley
QLD Government DAFF, Eco Science Precinct 2C West, GPO Box 267, Brisbane, QLD 4001
Ian Constable
PAI Executive “Nunderry” 260 Boyds Lane, Dulguigan via Murwillumbah, NSW 2484
PH/FAX: (02) 6672 6826 MOBILE: 0428 181 246 Email: ianconstable11@bigpond.com
Steve Gray
PAI Executive Vixies Road, Wonga Beach, QLD 4873
PH: (07) 4098 7202 Fax: (07) 4098 7202 Email: steve_trish2@bigpond.com.au
Keith Paxton
PAI Executive 38 Atkinsons Road, Woombye, QLD 4559
PH: (07) 5445 9387 FAX: (07) 5445 9323 MOB: 0427 625 946 Email: kipaxton@bigpond.com
Tina McPherson
PAI Executive 15 Zinks Road, Bundaberg, QLD 4670
PH: (07) 4159 3001 FAX: (07) 4155 6744 MOBILE : 0428 415 930 Email: tina@tinaberries.com.au
Sean Russell
Marketing PO Box 27, Brisbane Markets, QLD 4106
Mob: 0404 309 877 Email: jane.wightman@horticulture.com.au
PH: 07 5453 5927 FAX: 07 5493 5901 Email: peter.rigden@daff.qld.gov.au PH: 07 3255 4340 Mob: 0429 872 410 Email: Cherie.gambley@daff.qld.gov.au
PH: (07) 3379 1041 FAX: (07) 3379 4817 Mob : 0418 158 331 Email: sean@jetipper.com.au
Bank account details Passionfruit Australia Incorporated BSB: 124-187 Acc No.: 21655088 If direct debiting please ensure to quote your name or membership number
The Passion Vine – March 2013
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News Column By Jann Bonsall Plant Orders Even though you’re all wondering whether you can get out onto you farms today, you need to be considering what you need for next season. Plant orders need to be to your preferred nursery VERY SOON as seeds for rootstock will start being planted beginning of April. Diary Entries 23rd August Dinner pre AGM Once the venue(s) have been finalised, a dinner will be organised for all those arriving from interstate, south Queensland or locals. Everyone is welcome but I will need numbers so I can organise seating. 24th August PAI AGM Once again, will require all wishing to attend to notify me so I
can ensure plenty of seats, but more importantly, enough tea, coffee and food! Annual Levy Payers’ Meeting …will most likely be held at the same venue as the PAI AGM. Depending on location of the Field trip will determine where we have lunch so please indicate your attendance for ALPM. Surveys Many thanks to all of you who contributed to the survey relating to the Assessment of nutritional profile & fruit quality of irradiated fruit. The result was 30 in favour and 6 against. The project was discussed at the IAC meeting in February and recommendations made to the HAL Board. The final outcome will be reported in the June edition of Passion Vine.
… and we have another survey for you to complete by the end of May. This survey is equally important. We are asking for your assessment of how you see the projects being undertaken on behalf of the whole of the passionfruit industry, are achieving the objectives outlined in the Strategic Investment Plan 20122017. It’s been made as simple or involved as you want – tick boxes only or tick and make comments as well. The more information you give us, the better aligned we can make the on-going projects. The survey will be sent to you separately by post with a return envelope, or you can go online, download the survey, fill it in and email it back to admin@passionfruitaustralia. org.au. This survey is for GROWERS only.
Quality + Quality + Quality All growers should be aware there have been problems in the wholesale markets and the chain stores regarding the quality of passionfruit being received and shelf life in store. It became evident that there are some growers throwing caution to the wind where their responsibilities are concerned with packing quality fruit. On pages 13 and 14 of this newsletter there are the market specifications for purple and panama passionfruit. A letter has been sent to you all and a copy of
these market specs provided. New growers who have recently become members of PAI have been provided a Passionfruit Grading Guide. If anyone requires a new copy, please don’t hesitate to contact me either by phone or email. With all these provisions, there is no excuse for bad fruit turning up on the market floor and even worse on the shelf at any retailer regardless if it’s Coles, Woolies or the local greengrocer at Albury Wodonga.
The carton pictured below was sent to the markets as No 1’s in January. Check your Grading Guide and assess what you believe should be done with this box.
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Remember to email your ads to the Secretary * PASSIONFRUIT GROWERS AND SUPPLIERS OF
FOR SALE ASP Passionfruit Grader As new condition Grading to 4 sizes $2,600 gst inclusive ono Sunshine Coast Ph : Kev 0419 760 686
* GRAFTED PASSIONFRUIT Misty Gems DPI - Approved rootstocks * SEEDLINGS Pandora Red Panama
Hand pollinated Pandora rootstock available.
FOR ORDERS / ENQUIRIES Please ph/fax 07 4159 7394 Peter Griffiths 0429 656 922 Sally Griffiths 0401 656 922
408 Dahls Rd, Calavos, Bundaberg Q 4670 Email – peteandsally4@bigpond.com
The Passion Vine – March 2013
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Regional Roundup From the growers...
NSW Area By Ian Constable
Hello Everyone Well! What about this weather. We’ve gone from the longest dry spell to the wettest month and a bit for many years. We had the highest flood level I’ve seen at our place. Some vines were in 1 metre of water for a few days. We weren’t that badly done by compared to many areas in Queensland and NSW. I hope everyone is safe and not badly damaged by the floods. We did have some very strong winds that sent posts and vines over but we have patched them up now. Some growers lost fruit and flowers but we were fortunate and didn’t have much of that, although as I write this it is raining, with more predicted for the following week. We are starting to see diseases coming through on the fruit with no chance of spraying anything for a while. Hopefully the market will be aware of our situation and accept second grade fruit for a while. In this humidity the diseases will be very active. On a positive note the rain has washed some of the mites out of our vines. They have been doing quite a bit of damage this year on our farm. If anyone has a way of controlling them without killing beneficials please let me know. PAI is going to get identification of them and hopefully get some new control methods. If the
weather doesn’t clear up soon we won’t have much of a winter crop. We have lots of buds coming out but I don’t think the fruit will set. Warm, sunny days is what are needed. Bye for now,
The Sunshine Coast By Keith and Judy Paxton
The weather has certainly made work on the farm difficult this season. We sure are a land of drought and flooding rains. We have had around 1200 mms in the last 5 weeks and we harvested our lychee crop in the rain, lost a few, but you get that. Got bogged in the passionfruit patch and are now watching the spots grow. Never a dull moment. We have started to see a few old vines dying but that is not surprising after quite a lot of posts were snapped off and the vines were flung around by the wind. I went to a meeting at Wollingbar (Northern NSW) on 21st February. Beautiful country and I had not been there before. It was very wet and windy. Some macadamia nut growers were at the meeting and they had had quite a lot of nut trees blown over but unfortunately the weather got much worse on the Friday and I believe they had a lot more damage. What amazed me in the area was the amount of destruction and disturbance by the Government in building roads. I know we have to have new roads but you wonder
sometimes at the planning of new infrastructure. We have planted some vines in an area where the pipeline went through our property and they are not performing as well as we had hoped. It appears the ground is still very compacted, but we will get there. Some of the trial vines on our farm are showing some promise. Let’s hope one is a winner. It sure is going to be hard to beat Misty Gem and Sweetheart. We grew some Mistys this year and the fruit quality has been excellent. I think Misty Gem vines we have now are as good as the first trial I did of them. At the moment one of our friendly hares has decided to eat the stems of vines, despite all the beautiful green grass. Repeated efforts to deter him last night failed. Hopefully tonight. Hope to see some fine weather and sunshine.
Far North Queensland By Steve Gray
Growers in our local area pulled out and replanted all vines in December. With steady rain and plenty of sunshine since planting, the vines are growing strong with low disease pressure. The sucking bugs have been a big headache again this year even with a regular spray program. It’s the beginning of March and it looks like the monsoonal season
The Passion Vine – March 2013 has kicked into gear with solid rain over the last few days. The last few months have been a lot dryer then previous years but we have received enough rain to keep the ground wet, not having to irrigate for the last 4 weeks. Fingers crossed for no cyclones!!
Bundaberg Area By Peter Griffiths
Hello everyone. In the Bundaberg region we are experiencing one weather extreme to another. With little rain for five months and then a heat wave which had most farmers irrigating almost every day until the Australia Day
weekend when Bundaberg experienced its worst flood on record with the Burnett River peaking at one metre higher than ever recorded before. We received 550 mm of rain in three days and with the ground baked hard from the heatwave, there was almost instant runoff. I managed to spray my vines three days after the event with minimal damage to the ground between the trellises and began irrigating again within the week. However most farmers I talked to suffered more wind damage than flooding. There was a series of tornadoes which came in from the ocean which caused structural damage to buildings, hothouses, etc. One farmer
Page 7 reported a few hundred metres of trellising being blown over. My farm is about 7 kms from the ocean and we managed to find a couple of 15 cm fish laying amongst the vines delivered by the tornado which passed just south of us. Now, in the beginning of March, we have just received another 130 mm of rain which has really saturated the soil. The rain and wind have also caused a large flower drop. The local panama crop is just coming to an end and there seems to be a good amount of Misty Gem plants with green fruit just waiting for the sun to reappear. That’s all until next time. Thanks.
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Marketing
Marketing Strategy The limited funds available for the marketing program, dictate that the industry utilise the marketing investment where the highest return on investment can be gained. Therefore the rationale is to focus the marketing promotions and communication to influence the buying habits of the current passionfruit purchasers segment, with the aim to increase frequency and purchase volumes. The promotional strategy aims to achieve these objectives of increasing purchase frequency and purchase volumes by; Leveraging the emotional connection that existing consumers have towards passionfruit and by reinforcing the positive aspects of enjoyment/taste, availability and value to increase buyer motivation to purchase more frequently. Communicating the versatility, convenience of eating the fruit; providing practical solutions to remove barriers to purchase and thereby increasing consumption volumes. The Passionfruit marketing program for 2013 focuses on driving consumer awareness during the peak seasons from May
– July. The promotions will engage consumers within the identified target markets, whilst product is in good supply and available at a reasonable price point. By moving consumers up to purchasing more frequently and more volume each occasion, yields the highest return for the industry. Target Market The strategy engages the ‘frequent purchasers’ of passionfruit segment. This group is currently considered the core buyers in the passionfruit category. The segment on average consumes more passionfruit to the rest of the market as well as has fewer barriers to purchasing the product. Based on the 2011 consumer research study, two key target markets have been identified; Young Transitionals The greatest opportunities lie with this segment, that are currently the lightest purchasers in terms of volume and frequency. Established Couples This group is the highest average purchasers compared to the younger demographics. It is important to maintain
their consumption levels as well as look into increasing the frequency of their purchase.
Public Relations Public Relation activities will be the main communication channel to position passionfruit as the ‘hero’ of the occasion leveraging the rich tropical and exotic attributes of the fruit. This year’s activity continues to drive the key messages of availability and versatility of the fruit. The activity proposed, delivers these messages to a greater breadth of consumers, whilst educating and motivating them to consider purchasing passionfruit during the peak periods of availability. The key activities for the Public Relations program are as follows:
The Passion Vine – March 2013 promotional strategy, bringing a fresh, fun approach which appeals to the younger target audiences.
Sammy and Bella Jakubiak The 2013 Autumn promotion will feature the two celebrated sisters Sammy and Bella (pictured above) – the winners of Season 2 of the hit TV program ‘My Kitchen Rules’, as passionfruit ambassadors. The two brand ambassadors will help the industry increase exposure for the key messages being promoted this season. Since their appearance on the competition, Sammy and Bella have continued to grow their media profile over the years. They now regularly appear on TV as the resident food experts on The Morning Show, as well as Sunrise, Christmas with the Stars and New Idea TV. They also make regular appearances on print media, with regular recipe publications in New Idea, Cosmopolitan and OK! featuring delicious recipes and stunning food photography and styling. They are also well known for their motto that fresh and local is always best. Sammy and Bella as brand ambassadors will be closely aligned to the industry’s
Tropical Fruit Workshop for Bloggers A tropical fruit themed media workshop is proposed to be undertaken during the month of March/April. The proposed event will invite top tier bloggers from around Sydney and engage them in an immersive experience around tropical fruits supported by the industry brand ambassadors and growers from the industry. The event will showcase the fruit, and include demonstrations on how to use the fruit in various different ways by the industry brand ambassadors Sammy and Bella (Passionfruit Ambassadors) and Alvin Quah (Papaya Ambassador). Furthermore, the event will include two growers representing both industries, who can highlight how the product is grown and sent through to the market. This will also be a good opportunity for industry to communicate the upcoming season as well as the provenance of the products. The PR agency will organise this event in Sydney and continue liaising with media to ensure coverage on the products will be taken up by respective media channels.
Page 9 Retail Promotions A sampling program will be carried out in a total of 65 high traffic greengrocer and independent stores in New South Wales and Queensland between late May and early June. The purpose of this activity is aimed to create maximum possible awareness and buyer interaction for the category at the point of purchase. Each selected store will have a 4 hour demonstration/sampling session, during which time sampling staff will engage shoppers and communicate the key features and benefits of Australian grown passionfruit and educate them on handling and storage. Furthermore, sampling staff will be placing POS material in a prominent position near the passionfruit produce display to increase visibility of the stock within the store intended for increased visibility for the product during the peak season. In addition, the industry and HAL is continually engaging the key retailers Coles and Woolworths as well as independents such as Harris Farms this year to leverage passionfruit within the retail chains with the key focus to increase retail presence and promotion for the brand in store as well as address various issues around handling and storage within the supply chain.
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Vine Trial Report By Steve Gray
2011 trial vines are not showing much promise in SEQ although they look good, taste is not flash. Reports from other regions may change this.
2012 trial vines in SEQ are showing promise on a couple of the crosses. Sending these out to trial in the other regions will determine the true outcome.
Letters to the Editor Don’t forget to send your letters to the Editor to admin@passionfruitaustralia.org.au or post to PO Box 321, Pomona, Qld 4568
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Moraitis Group Pty Ltd
For information regarding administration issues for Passionfruit Australia Incorporated please contact:
Jann Bonsall PO Box 321 Pomona QLD 4568 Ph: 07 5485 4402 Email: admin@ passionfruitaustralia.org.au For variety and plantings issues please contact your local Executive Member as listed on page 2. Other enquiries can be made through Queensland DPIF on their call centre number 132523 All contributions concerning the industry are most welcome.
The Passion Vine is edited by Jann Bonsall and Jenny Drew The advice and opinions in the articles published in The Passion Vine are essentially those of contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Passionfruit Australia Incorporated or the Editor. The advice given is at the readers own risk, and no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of the material presented. Inclusion of an advertisement in this publication does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product, company or service by Passionfruit Australia Incorporated or the Editor.
Leaders in fresh produce Moraitis core products include : * Passionfruit * Melons * Pumpkin * Cherries * Onions * Strawberries
* Potatoes *Tomatoes * Bananas * Citrus * Garlic * Avocadoes
Moraitis is a national company in the leading position as a fully integrated supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables in Australia. Moraitis have a dedicated team focused on satisfying Grower and Customer needs, who are devoted to providing flawless 24/7 supply and service solutions,to the retail supermarket chains and independent fruit markets all around Australia. The Moraitis base is unique because of the wide range of customers’ serviced, and our ability to supply consistent quality and service 12 months of the year. Australia’s leaders in the fresh produce industry – Moraitis has National distribution capabilities and is located Australia wide.
For passionfruit enquiries please contact Debra Scarfe : Exotic Fruit Category Mobile: 0416088615 Email: dscarfe@moraitis.com.au
PAI Licensed Nurseries Birdwood Nursery
71 Blackall Range Road, 07 5442 Nambour 4560 1611
J&V McLeod
Campbell’s Road, Dungay 2484
Widebay Passionvine Nursery
408 Dahls Road, Calavos, Bundaberg 4670
02 6672 3503 07 4159 7394
Peter Kallinis : Category Manager Mobile: 0412 141 536 Email: pkallinis@moraitis.com.au Matthew McInerney: National Sales Manager Mobile: 0417 468 828 Email: mmcinerney@moraitis.com.au Moraitis Wholesale NSW Stand 52, A Shed Sydney Markets NSW 2129 P.O. Box 75 Sydney Markets NSW 2129 T: +61 2 9764 2370 F: +61 2 9764 2218
Contact Moraitis for more information on our website www.moraitis.com.au For general enquiries regarding our business or products please send an email to info@moraitis.com.au or call our customer service number 1 800 657 010
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Managing Passionfruit Plantations Affected by Wet Weather By Peter Rigden, Extension Horticulturalist, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Inundated fields Passionfruit vines are sensitive to inundation and if flooded for more than a few days their roots may die from lack of oxygen. When safe to do so inspect the plantation and note areas that are affected by poor drainage. If possible, immediately take steps to improve the drainage of these areas so that the water can get away. In the longer term building better mounds prior to replanting may help, as long as they are orientated to allow the water to get away and not dam it up. Diseases After extended periods of cool, cloudy weather the ability of passionfruit vines to resist diseases
is low because they have not been able to photosynthesize adequately to build up reserves of carbohydrate to fight against them. Passionfruit are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot and stem canker which thrives in saturated, cool soils. In addition, wet conditions favour the development of Phytophthora blight on leaves and fruit. As soon as possible make a foliar application of phosphorous acid. This is a systemic fungicide that will be translocated through the whole plant and help to minimise the development of the various Phytophthora diseases. Apply this chemical every 3 weeks until the disease is under control and dryer conditions prevail.
A number of other diseases affect the stems, leaves and fruit of passionfruit and often more than one disease will be present. After extended periods of wet weather the incorporation of azoxystrobin or iprodione fungicides into the preventative spray program of regular applications of mancozeb will assist in control of these diseases. Fortunately, most fungicides (both protective and clean-up) used to control the main disease problem will also afford some control of other diseases that may be present. The following table outlines which chemicals are recommended and registered for use to control diseases which are likely to occur.
Disease
Chemical
Activity
Timing of foliar sprays
Phytophthora
Phosphorous acid
Clean-up
Every 3 weeks until disease is under control
Anthracnose, Brown spot, Septoria spot
Mancozeb
Protective
Every 10 to 14 days in wet weather and 28 day intervals in cooler dry months
Anthracnose, Brown spot, Copper-based Septoria spot, Phytophthora fungicides blight and stem canker
Protective
Every 10 to 14 days in wet weather and 28 day intervals in cooler dry months
Alternaria, Alternata spot, Cladosporium Scab
Azoxystrobin
Clean-up
1 to 2 applications at 14 day intervals (see resistance management strategy on label)
Alternata spot, Brown spot,
Iprodione
Clean-up
10 -14 day intervals before, during and after wet periods. No more than 4 sprays per season (see resistance management strategy on label)
The Passion Vine – March 2013 Important: Check the label for application rate, mixing recommendations, with-holding period, resistance management strategies etc. and to confirm the product is registered for use in your state. Protective fungicides prevent the build up of diseases on leaves and fruit. These fungicides do not kill or control existing disease infections that may be present on the surface of a fruit or leaf before the fungicide is applied. It is therefore essential to apply protective fungicides frequently to maintain a layer of fungicide to protect new growth and to replace any fungicide that is washed off by rain. DO NOT stop using them during dry weather, maintaining your protective fungicide spray program in dry weather will minimise disease outbreaks during and after wet weather. Clean–up fungicides are most effective when applied prior to the onset of wet weather. Sometimes applications can be made in advance on the basis of weather forecasts and at other times not. Fortunately these chemicals do assist with control of disease outbreaks even when applied after wet weather, especially where protective sprays have been used regularly beforehand. Clean-up fungicides (unlike protective fungicides) have very specific modes of action. As a result resistant strains of diseases will develop if they are not used correctly and they will become completely ineffective. The label details resistance management strategy guidelines that limit the number of applications per crop and stipulate their use in combination with protective fungicides.
Base rot caused by the fungus Fusarium solani, is often a problem in vines that have been stressed. The pathogen that causes base rot, Fusarium solani, does not attack sound tissue or vigorous vines but previous infection by Phytophthora provides an ideal entry point so control of Phytophthora will help minimise the development of base rot. Plants subjected to stress as a result of poor growing conditions (such as when soils are saturated for long periods) are susceptible to base rot. There is no chemical control for base rot but anything that can be done to control diseases and improve vine vigour will help to limit the development of the disease. Long term management There are a number of management strategies which growers can adopt to help prevent and reduce the impact of adverse weather:
Replant old vines. Diseases build up in older vines with thick canopies not easily penetrated by fungicide sprays and during wet weather periods these vines rapidly deteriorate. To avoid this situation arising many growers replant very vigorous varieties every 12 to 24 months. Apply the correct amount of chemical. Check labels for correct chemical application rates and ensure that spray equipment is in good condition and correctly calibrated. Applying the correct amount of chemical and achieving good spray coverage is essential if fungicides are to be effective. Varietal resistance. Different varieties have different susceptibilities to diseases and this is one of the reasons why a
Page 16 range of varieties should be grown. An on-farm trial is the best way to assess if a variety performs well on your farm. Protect the vines from wind. Wind increases the detrimental effect of wet weather so establish shelter belts to reduce the exposure of vines to wind.
Empty fruit Periods of wet weather during flowering cause pollen grains to swell and rupture rendering them unviable. In addition bees and other insect pollinators are not active during wet weather. This results in a subsequent crop of empty or poorly filled fruit. There is no guaranteed solution to this problem but introduction of managed bee hives into the plantation may help improve fruit set and pulp content in future crops. Leached nutrients Three of the important nutrients for passionfruit are prone to leaching from the soil and as a result of the high rainfall are likely to be low, these are: Nitrogen Potassium Boron Growers need to adjust their fertiliser applications to make up for expected shortfalls, typically rates are raised by up to 20% above normal but be very careful with boron (especially on light sandy soils) not to overdo the rates since this element can easily reach toxic levels. With the likelihood of continued heavy rain, fertiliser rates are best split into frequent applications of small amounts, this means that the amount that can potentially be lost with each rainfall event will be lower and the levels will be topped up sooner with the next application.
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Passion Vine Cook Book I went searching for something different from the web that may put a smile on our dials. The following recipe is a bit late for this year, but while we have plenty of fruit coming on to the market over the next 3-4 months, we should take advantage of FRESH! Valentine’s Day Passionfruit Mousse Courtesy of Latino Fox News
An evergreen vine, which can become a pest in your garden if not trained onto a trellis and regularly pruned, the fruit is full of phyto-nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin A, and vitamin C. In a smoothie as a traditional topping for pavlovas they’re hard to beat. We’d like to share a more unusual recipe to enjoy this wonderful summer fruit as a main or side dish. Passionfruit, Avocado and Spinach salad Courtesy Sanitarium
Ingredients 1 cup whipping cream 1 cup sweetened condensed milk ½ cup frozen passion fruit juice concentrate or pulp Directions Pour the whipping cream, condensed milk and passion fruit juice into a blender. Blend on low until light and fluffy, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour into a serving bowl, dessert dishes or chocolate cases, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Decorate with fresh raspberries, strawberries or chocolate hearts. … or we can go healthy. The following recipe is from Pittwater News online in Sydney and the recipes is courtesy of Sanitarium. February in Australia brings in our locally grown passionfruit crops.
Ingredients 2 avocado, sliced 1 cup papaw, sliced thinly 100g baby spinach leaves 4 stalks celery, sliced 1 small Spanish onion, sliced Dressing 1 lemon, juiced 1 orange, juiced 3 teaspoons olive oil 4 passionfruit 2 tablespoon chopped fresh mint Place avocado, pawpaw, baby spinach, celery and onion into a salad bowl. In a separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. Pour over salad. Serve chilled. … and then I kept looking and found out why EVERYONE should be eating MORE passionfruit! The many health benefits of passionfruit consumption Courtesy of Healthy Eating, San Francisco Chronicle
Passionfruit was introduced in Hawaii in 1880 but was first cultivated commercially in Kenya in 1933. Three decades later, Ugandan farmers began to grow it on a large scale. Problems with plant disease and pests hindered the growth of the fruit in those countries, but when South Africa successfully produced 2,000 tons of it in 1947 and farmers in South America began to grow it commercially, production soared. Today, passionfruit is grown in tropical areas throughout the world, with millions of people enjoying its rich store of nutrients. Fibre and Protein Although some people prefer to strain passionfruit into juice, others enjoy the crunch of the seeds. Doing so provides extra nutritional benefits. A cup of passionfruit with the pulp and seeds intact contains 24.5 grams of fiber, the equivalent of more than 4 cups of bran cereal, and more than 5 grams of protein. Without the seeds and pulp, the fiber content drops to .5 grams per cup and the amount of protein drops below 1 gram. Carotenoids Each cup of passionfruit contains about 25 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin A, which is crucial for maintaining good vision, healthy skin, cell growth and reproduction. Passionfruit contains at least 13 different carotenoids, including zeta-, beta- and alpha-carotene, bcryptoxanthin and lycopene, all non-nutritive phytochemicals that help your body produce vitamin A. Carotenoids are fat soluble, so
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eating the seeds, which modestly increase a passionfruit's fat content, enables better absorption of the vitamin A. Antioxidants Passionfruit is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects you from the damage free radicals cause, preventing premature aging and keeping your immune system strong. With 71 milligrams per cup, one serving gives you all of
the vitamin C you need each day. It also gives you 10 percent of the folate you need. Vitamin C and folate are water-soluble nutrients that slowly become depleted after harvest. A freshlypicked passionfruit is more nutritious than one that has been stored and transported, so get passionfruit from a farmers market when possible. Iron Passionfruit is a rich source of nonheme, or plant based, iron. While the Institute of Medicine recommends that men get 6 micrograms of iron per day and women get 8.1 micrograms, a cup of raw passionfruit provides nearly 4 milligrams. Paired with enriched cereals and iron-rich vegetables such as broccoli or
Page 18 beets, a vegetarian can get an adequate amount of iron by adding passionfruit to her diet. The vitamin C content of the passionfruit also helps your body absorb its iron content. References Purdue University Crop Index: Passionfruit United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database: Passion-fruit, Purple, Raw Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes Kerala Agricultural University: Status and Prospects of Passion Fruit Cultivation in Kerala University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Preserving Nutrients in Food
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Flood Relief - Growcom Welcomes the Extension of Category C & D Disaster Assistance (06.03.2013) Growcom is greatly relieved to see the announcement that the Federal and State Governments have now extended the Category C & D disaster assistance measures to other areas affected by the recent flooding. Growers in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Logan, Central Highlands, Rockhampton and Western Downs local government areas can now apply for Category C assistance, and those within some targeted areas can also apply for higher-level Category D assistance.
Category C (special disaster assistance) provides grants of up to $25 000 to assist with clean up and recovery. Category D (exceptional disaster assistance) enables access to higher concessional loans of up to $650 000 with an interest free period of two years and a grant section of up to $50 000. Until today, this level of assistance was only available to growers in the local government areas of: Bundaberg Regional Council; Fraser Coast Regional Council; Gladstone Regional Council; Gympie Regional
Council; Lockyer Valley Regional Council; North Burnett Regional Council; Scenic Rim Regional Council; South Burnett Regional Council; and parts of the Banana Regional Council; Goondiwindi Regional Council; Ipswich City Council; Somerset Regional Council; Southern Downs Regional Council; and Toowoomba Regional Council. For full details on eligibility, guidelines and application forms, please go to the QRAA web site or contact your local QRAA client liaison officer.
NSW Assistance Primary Producers - Loans Loans of up to $130,000 are available (subject to certain eligibility criteria), at a concessional interest rate for those in urgent need. These loans may be used to meet carry-on requirements and the replacement and repair of damage not covered by insurance. The NSW Rural Assistance Authority administers this scheme. Inquiries should be directed to the Authority on 1800 678 593. Rural Assistance Authority website
Diary Note Primary Producers Transport subsidies Transport freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent on the carriage of livestock and fodder are available to help primary producers. The maximum subsidy available is $15,000 per annum.
Annual General Meeting Annual Levy Payer’s Meeting Field Day
Inquiries should be made to the nearest Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) office. For general enquires, call (02) 6391 3242.
Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August 2013
Livestock Health and Pest Authorities website
In Cairns
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