Table grape news

Send-off for industry’s knight

Former ATGA chair and long-term board member Richard Lomman has resigned from his role on the peak industry body.

The king of his St George property, Camelot, and leader within the table grape industry, Richard has been a champion of growers at state and national level.

The only ATGA chair to have been situated outside of Sunraysia, and the inaugural and long-standing chair of Table Grapes Queensland (formerly GrapeConnect), Richard has a long list of achievements within industry, including establishing minimum maturity standards for Queensland growers, pioneering table grape production in non-traditional regions, engaging growers and stakeholders and supporting regional community.

Former industry development officer for Growcom and private consultant Anne Larard worked closely with Richard and applauded his efforts over the past few decades.

“Richard had a vision in 2003 that ended up transforming consumers’ experience with early season table grapes, and got people purchasing grapes more frequently again,” Anne said.

“He worked incredibly hard with other growers, and with marketers, to find ways to fund research into eating quality and then to introduce a minimum maturity standard for grapes from Queensland.

Anne said there were many within industry who were dubious about the efforts required for the program.

“It involved a lot of extra work and travel, and many in the industry were sceptical about whether it would work, and the extra efforts everyone had to put in,” Anne said.

“Throughout the first trial in 2004 and in subsequent years, he led a team of 30 growers and 13 wholesale partners that increased the proportion of grapes on the market that were of satisfactory eating quality – from only 44 per cent to over 90 per cent. It was a huge turnaround.”

Anne said that maturity program led to the early season grapes’ ability compete effectively against other summer fruit.

“It significantly reduced the market build-up and collapse in prices that had started to threaten the viability of many growers and the strength of the category.”

ATGA CEO Jeff Scott said the success of the program was a “testament to Richard’s perseverance”.

Richard – who resigned from his posts in December last year – was a driving force behind the Table Grapes Queensland program, which heralded the adoption of national minimum maturity standards, now accepted by national retail chains and growers, and enabled a “large shift in the purchasing behaviour” of Australian table grapes, said Anne.

Queensland delegate for the ATGA board Mark Leng said Richard’s commitment to improving industry also included supporting his regional community and district, campaigning for table grape production in nontraditional growing regions, being prepared to face a challenge and “very dogged in his determination to see the best result reached”.

Mark said during Richard’s time within industry he was “supportive of new ideas, happy to be challenged, and always happy to listen to others and encourage others to contribute”.

A knight of the table grape industry and industry body, Richard’s advocacy extended past the northern region, including encouragement of the southern growers and market access.

Jeff expressed his gratitude to Richard for his role in improving the industry as it is today.

“I have enjoyed Richard’s objective and thoughtful input into many discussions we have had in regards to improving the table grape industry for the long term over the past many years.” v

New SIP for table grapes

Table grape levy-payers are set to get a new strategic investment plan (SIP) this year.

Hort Innovation industry strategic partner Dumisani Mhlanga spoke about the process of developing the SIP and what levy-payers can expect.

The research and development corporation is currently future planning for the new “roadmap”, which will aid in the oversight and management of the table grape fund levies for the next five years.

Dumisani said that, previously, consultation on levy investments came from the investment idea form (sometimes known as “the funnel” or the “concept form”), but this process had since changed.

“Rather than inviting a broad selection of investment suggestions via the investment idea form, Hort Innovation will consult more broadly with growers, industry stakeholders and the research community during the development and ongoing life of the SIPs,” Dumisani said. “Consultations will utilise multiple engagement opportunities such as existing industry meetings, surveys and via zoom conferencing opportunities.”

All Strategic Industry Advisory Panel (SIAP) members are invited to a SIP consultation on 24 March to capture their input.

Due to travel restrictions, Hort Innovation will conduct targeted phone calls to individual growers and invites wider industry to have their say by completing the following survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ GTPT9MT). Dumisani said recommendations would be incorporated into a draft SIP and then reviewed by the ATGA, strategic industry advisory panel and key stakeholders for prioritisation.

“This consultation is intended as an opportunity to ensure Hort Innovation has captured the key priorities for the industry,” Dumisani said. “Once the new five-year SIP is approved, AIPs (annual investment plans) will be developed and reviewed annually for the remaining years of the SIP.

“These will be shared with the relevant SIAP, industry bodies and key stakeholders. In the first year of the new SIP development, the first AIP will be developed simultaneously (for 2021–2022).”

The new SIP will come into effect on 1 July 2021 and last five years. v

WHO IS YOUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENT ADVISORY PANEL (SIAP)?

Domenic Sergi SJDC Produce VIC

Enrique Rossi Budou R&D / Budou Farms VIC

Roger Fahl

Jeff Scott Fruitico WA

Australian Table Grape Association VIC

Mark Krstic

Brendan Larkin

Michael Treeby The Australian Wine Research Institute VIC

Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources VIC

Agriculture Victoria VIC 2017–2021 SIP OUTCOMES

Increased demand for Australian table grapes by strengthening and developing domestic and export market opportunities that will improve industry viability and sustainability.

Demand-building strategies and increased prices for Australian table grapes supported by improvements in product quality.

Production efficiency improved and biosecurity threats mitigated by growers applying knowledge, skills and tools.

Improved capability across the industry to implement improvements in supply and quality.