Australian Fresh Produce Alliance Demands Changes Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) The Fair Work Ombudsman needs a dedicated horticulture taskforce within it, according to a major fresh produce group. The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) has called for $10 million over two years to fund the task force in light of changes to be made to […]
2021: A Watershed Year for Australia Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) This year has been another huge one for Australian grain producers presenting multiple challenges to navigate, but all spurred by the ultimate goal of a bumper grains harvest with record returns. The nation has dealt with worker shortages, ongoing COVID-19 disruptions, mouse plagues, […]
Australia in Need of Better Farming Conditions for Overseas Workers Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) More than 80% of workers in Australia’s horticultural industry are migrants on temporary work visas (or undocumented). The Seasonal Worker Programme is often regarded as one of the better pathways to this work. It is, for example, more highly […]
Australian Imported Stone Fruit Cheaper During Holidays Australia is approaching summer, and with that comes an abundance of stone fruits. This includes the ever-popular peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries! The continent is in the Southern hemisphere means that while the majority of the world is experiencing colder weather, Australia is instead experiencing hot summer […]
Carrots, Broccoli and Potatoes in Demand During the Holidays The industry body for the Australian vegetable & potato industries AUSVEG is prompting Aussie consumers to support their local vegetable growers this festive season. Australian growers have produced an incredible amount of vegetables this year, meaning there will be plenty of high-quality fresh produce available on […]
Global Shipping Delays to Haunt Australia in 2022 Australia’s reliance on global imports is set to leave the country vulnerable in the wake of further supply chain delays, with industry expert, David Aherne, Managing Director and CEO of Across the Ocean Shipping, predicting more pain is yet to come, as shipping hold-ups are expected to […]
Monitoring Systems Essential for Fresh Produce Shipments The use of monitoring systems in fruit and vegetable shipments has become “very important” in recent times due to the challenges and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and industrial disputes, according to an Australian-based cargo technology company. Avcatech National Sales Manager Steve Tenni says the pandemic has […]
Avocados: Deducing its Popularity It is almost impossible these days to find a brunch menu at an Australian café that doesn’t feature at least one dish with smashed avo on toast. Avocado has been all the rage for a while but when did it become so popular in Australia and why? It is no secret […]
Preventing Food Poisoning in the Fresh Produce Industry Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) A leading Australian professor of food microbiology believes the final product testing of fruit and vegetables is not solely an effective control strategy in controlling bacterial and viral outbreaks, rather it is about safety measures in every step along the supply chain. Deputy […]
Citrus Australia Highlights Flaws in Fair Work Commission Rates Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) Citrus Australia has addressed significant flaws in the recent Fair Work Commission decision to install a floor price for workers under the Horticulture Award through an official submission. The submission includes an alternative variation, which attempts to provide a safety net […]
Australia’s Recovery from Drought As the world prepares for a feast this Christmas, it is necessary to spare a thought for the hard slog a farmer goes through to get food onto the plate. Whether it’s a bushfire, flood, drought, or workforce challenges, growing food takes dedication and commitment. Australia may be in a La […]
Carbon Offset Impacting Welsh Communities Last month, Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Swansea West, quizzed Welsh farmers about how it helped the climate crisis when British Airways bought up Welsh farms to put trees on them in order that they could fly more planes. He was referring to an example in Carmarthenshire, where a dozen […]
The Rise and Fall of Wheat: A Complete Picture Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) Wheat is not only sown into Russia’s rich, black soil but also woven into the cultural fabric of the agricultural powerhouse that straddles Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The image of wheat stocks can be found on Russian and Soviet […]
Carbon Offsets Lead to Increased Agricultural Productivity Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) According to official reports, 2021 was truly an exciting year for Australian farmers. Climate change had previously been a source of uncertainty, and possibly apprehension, for the regions. Moreover, until a few months ago neither the federal government nor opposition had set […]
India Australia CECA: An Early Harvest Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) Earlier this month former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was on a visit to India to energise and expand Australia’s bilateral trade and investment relationship with India. That the visit had helped accelerate things was evident from last week’s joint statement after a […]
Australia Worried Due to Rising Covid Cases Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) New COVID-19 cases in Australia’s most populous state surged to a pandemic record Wednesday, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with state leaders to discuss preventative measures. Morrison emerged from the national cabinet meeting again rejecting lockdowns and mask mandates imposed by […]
Positive Outlook for Agriculture in 2021 Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) Grains and fertiliser producers are expected to post a strong performance in 2021, while wool producers will struggle. Following severe drought conditions over much of the prior three-year period, greater rainfall levels in key growing areas have improved crop yields. The expected level […]
Australia Looking for Quick Fixes for AdBlue Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) According to trusted sources, Australia is prepared to increase the manufacturing of a key diesel exhaust fluid ingredient vital to keeping the country’s freight and logistics sectors on track. The federal government and fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot have struck an agreement to […]
Global Urea Crisis: What is it? Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) Due to the global shortage of urea, the prices are soaring to levels not seen in over a decade. In this time of shortages and inflation worries, that alone might not sound too surprising. However, urea links up to several disparate-looking strands of global economic […]
Changes to Export Rules Completed Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech) The amendments to the Export Control Rules 2021 have been finalised. A representative of the official committee has said that the amendments were a result of the department’s commitment to listening to stakeholder feedback. According to him, “the industry told us what needed to […]
