The Passion Vine
The Passion Vine – March 2017
21 Turramurra Road, Tarragindi, QLD 4121
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March 2017
President’s Report By Tina McPherson I am sure that the summer of 2017 is one that won’t go down in the history books as one most of us will recall fondly! For many passionfruit growers the long dry hot season has been difficult and provided us with many challenges. Early summer Rutherglen bug incursion caused dramas for all. In the Bundaberg region we have had the hottest summer on record and the driest in a very long time. I know each region has suffered their own challenges. On a positive note the market pre Christmas remained steady with good fruit supply and reasonable prices so all was not doom and gloom!
breeding programme will be presented by Peter Bundock at the General Meeting in April.
As an association we are making progress with the challenges we set ourselves for the year. Changes to the constitution have been proposed and are available to members for comment and suggestions. These will be voted on at the General Meeting in Northern NSW next month.
I urge you to attend the General Meeting in Northern NSW if you can make the time. The general meeting provides the opportunity to air any issues you have, find out what is happening with the breeding project and get an update on other association activities. There have certainly been rumblings of discontent felt and I believe it is best to get
Jann Bonsall has comprehensively completed an audit of all our inputs, as an association, to breeding to establish the quantum of our contribution to the current breeding programme being undertaken. An update of the
We continue to push forward the proposals for a production and supply data project and an exploration of export opportunities with HIA. By the time this newsletter reaches you a second SIAP (Strategic Industry Advisory Panel) meeting will have been held where the new draft HIA Strategic Plan for Passionfruit will be discussed along with these other projects. Movement is slow but it is in a forward direction!
Newsletter of Passionfruit Australia Incorporated
these in the open so we can operate in a transparent and progressive manner. The association’s purpose is to represent all members and if there are problems then these should be addressed. It is an association of volunteers and the executive work to the best of their ability and time constraints in their capacity. All assistance is welcomed and participation encouraged. The meeting format will be a general meeting, followed by a presentation by Peter Bundock about the breeding project, a visit to the Duranbah Trial Block and for those who wish, a visit to the trial block at Burringbar. Happy Easter to all.