Woolsworth Signs Agreement with Union Partnership Article by: Hari Yellina To guarantee the safety of horticultural employees in the supply chain, Woolies has struck an agreement with a union alliance. In May, Woolworths Group and the Retail Supply Chain Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to protect the well being of Australian […]

Valencian Citrus Farmers to Benefit Tremendously Article by: Hari Yellina According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of 24.18 million euros will be committed to citrus fruit production, benefiting 29,400 citrus producers across the Valencian Community. “The Agriculture Sectoral Conference approved the aid’s territorial distribution, totaling 128.9 million euros, to compensate for the primary […]

Do High Temperatures Affect Trees Negatively? Article by: Hari Yellina Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid body temperature test is now required before entering many businesses, hospitals, and clinics. The goal is to check for fevers, which is commonly done with a non-contact infrared thermometer. Plant body temperatures are now routinely measured in […]

Are Ripe Bananas Low in Fibre? Article by: Hari Yellina As bananas ripen, their flavour and look change. Do they, however, modify their nutritional makeup? Do they lose some of their fibre content when they transition from green and firm to yellow and soft? The founder of Essence Nutrition in Miami, Monica Auslander Moreno, M.S., […]

Global Update: Price of Chinese Onions Drop as Supply Increases Article by: Hari Yellina The price of onions has plummeted as a result of multiple onion production locations in China currently supplying huge amounts of onions to the Chinese market. Furthermore, because transportation costs are decreasing, a lot of exporters have begun to make orders […]

Bees ‘Fished’ out of Hives After Being Waterlogged Article by: Hari Yellina After the NSW floods killed thousands of bees, one beekeeper warned of biosecurity threats as well as food and agricultural consequences. In the worst of weather, Southern Highlands beekeeper Hamish Ta-mé couldn’t access to his hives. He has been busy monitoring the matter […]

Fresh Veggies the Key to Proper Gut Health Article by: Hari Yellina We were always told to “eat our vegetables” as children, yet it turns out that not all vegetables are created equal. Fresh is best, according to dietician Nicole Barber, and choosing fruits and vegetables that have travelled a shorter distance to market is […]

Chicken Processors to Amend Unfair Contracts Article by: Hari Yellina The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has wrangled concessions from Australia’s largest chicken meat manufacturers in order to make some of their contracts with farmers more equitable. Two large corporations dominate the $3 billion market, with Ingham’s and Baiada Poultry supplying over 70% of […]

Is the Vegetable Greenhouse Chain Capable of Bearing Costs? Article by: Hari Yellina Who will be responsible for the rising costs? That is the question on everyone’s mind in the greenhouse vegetable industry. No one had an answer at the start of the current season, but growers appear to be stuck with it for the […]

New Seedless Grape Variants Lead to Increased Consumption Article by: Hari Yellina With the advent of new seedless cultivars, table grape consumption has changed dramatically in Brazil. “Table grapes were a low-value produce in Brazil, and their use was primarily seasonal. They are now increasingly regarded as an appealing and delectable nutritious snack, thanks to […]

Zespri Global Revenue Exceeded by Leaps and Bounds Article by: Hari Yellina Zespri achieved a milestone accomplishment for the 2021/22 season, with total global fruit sales income topping NZ$4 billion for the first time, thanks to a record crop, continuous investment in brand-led demand development, and the industry’s capacity to respond and harness its scale […]

Pomegranate Demands Exceed Supply Article by: Hari Yellina In its first season of commercial production, a Western Australian pomegranate grower was unable to meet the high demand for the fruit. Bassam Al Haify, co-owner of Gingin Pomegranates, notes that due to several unfavourable weather events, volume was lower than expected, but quality was still excellent. […]

Potato Growers Say Rising Costs are Exposing them to Risks Article by: Hari Yellina Costs are spiralling out of control, exerting pressure on Tasmanian potato producers who may have to switch crops. Leigh Elphinstone, a farmer from Sisters Creek, Tasmania, and head of the Simplot potato grower committee, agrees. He claimed that the cost of […]

Mushroom Meatery Showcases Special Combinations Article by: Hari Yellina Instead of handing out mushroom cheerios to youngsters, a butcher in New South Wales opened the world’s first “mushroom meatery” last month to help promote the fungi. To emphasise the marriage of the two meals, Coogee-based Kingsmore Meats collaborated with Australian Mushrooms and renowned chef Adam […]

Supporting Tasmanian Produce Growers with the Cost of Netting Article by: Hari Yellina The Tasmanian government released the following statement: “As a government, we are delivering a number of initiatives to future-proof Tasmanian agriculture and manage primary industry risks.” New awards have been established to assist Tasmanian fruit and vegetable growers in covering the expenses […]

Remote Packhouse Solutions now a Done Deal Article by: Hari Yellina Following the recent successful adoption of its packhouse solutions, a renowned New Zealand fresh produce software supplier claims it is experiencing record demand for its services. Raffa Fields, a renowned Australian asparagus producer and distributor, hired Radford Software earlier this year to deploy a […]

Upcoming Changes in the Salmon Industry? Article by: Hari Yellina Under a state government that has encouraged and promoted the industry’s expansion, a legislative probe into Tasmania’s disputed salmon business identified difficulties with environmental protection and transparency. The salmon industry in Tasmania generates a billion dollars per year, but disease outbreaks, biosecurity concerns, and suspicions […]

Return of the Mouse Plague in Queensland Article by: Hari Yellina In Queensland’s North Burnett, a mouse infestation has reached epidemic proportions, with residents apparently being attacked in their sleep and produce businesses being invaded by hundreds of rodents every night. Susie Capewell, who lives near Gayndah, claimed she had caught around 1,000 mice in […]

Lockyer Valley Farmers Battle to Retain Workers Article by: Hari Yellina Farmers in the Lockyer Valley are looking for methods to keep their farm employees while they rebuild after the recent floods. Farmers tally their highest cost: labour, as earthmovers thunder across the fertile black soil of Lockyer Valley in southern Queensland, restoring and re-leveling […]

Wage Costs and Labour Issues Force Agencies to Sell Article by: Hari Yellina Mark Allison, CEO of Elders, believes that generational transition in the farm services industry, combined with growing wage costs and labour shortages, will force an increasing number of independent agents to sell up. In the first half of current fiscal year, the […]