DRIED GRAPE NEWS
New agreement for licensed varieties Significant changes to production fees for some licensed dried grape varieties came into effect from this year’s harvest.
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cost to the licenced propagator and a
Premium Dried Fruits.
Registered Grower Agreement signed,
The changes fall under a new five-year agreement for the licensed varieties of Sunglo, Black Gem and Bruce’s Sport FSAC. Dried Fruits Australia CEO Anne Mansell said the Unique Dried Grape Varieties Committee and DFA board had been working with CSIRO over the past year to negotiate a new agreement. For Sunglo and Black Gem, the annual production fee has changed from a $200 per hectare charge to a $20 per tonne charge, which brings it in line with other levy charges. The fee will
“The good news is that the production royalty will only be charged to growers
said.
with these varieties for 10 years,
“DFA looks forward to working with
starting from when the variety comes
new and existing licensed growers,
into production at year three,”
propagators and receivers as well as
Anne said.
CSIRO in making these changes as
“For existing growers, this will be
seamless as possible.
managed with the information DFA
“We also encourage growers who
has on file via signed Registered
are replanting or putting in new
Grower Agreements, and licenced
plantings to seriously consider these
growers and receivers will be notified
commercialised varieties as they’ve
when the 10-year timeframe is
been developed to suit our regional
complete. It will also be a feature
growing conditions.”
of all new Registered Grower
Please contact the DFA office if you
Agreements.”
have any questions. Fact sheets on
Propagation fees haven’t changed and
each of the licensed varieties are also
will remain at $1.30 per vine for all varieties.
be collected at the delivery point by
“For any new plantings, this fee will
the licensed receivers – processors
need to be paid as part of an overall
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as has always been the case,” Anne
available from the office and DFA website.v
