Fresh Source - December 2008

print post approved pp 424022/00429

issue: twenty-FOUR DEC/2008

#

06-08

Magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited

Mandatory Code

p10

No Ho! Ho! Ho! for Code

Review

The year in

p24

fesh Bu ndy

All thing great and

in

p23

SOURCE

Your source of fresh information fOR the fruit and vegetable industry.

growers wholesalers

retailers exporters processors transporters secondary wholesalers

c e o ’s

Comme nt Banana Imports

Code

While there is science underpinning the certainty and effectiveness of biosecurity protocols when they are applied and vigorously enforced, the fact is that protocols are not always rigidly followed or enforced. Recent history tells us that no matter what protocols are in place to stop pest and disease incursions, breaches will occur. One only has to look at recent examples such as Citrus Canker, Horse Flu and fire ants to realise that our country’s borders can be breached and that the application of protocols can be flawed.

The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, has progressed the process of reviewing the Horticulture Code of Conduct.

Any decision regarding the importation of bananas from the Phillipines should logically include an analysis of the risk of lapses or breaches of those protocols, and the economic impact of such a breach within Australia.

From the wholesaling sector’s perspective, amendments are required so as to make the Code workable. With the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommending the sunsetting of existing pre-Code agreements, random audits and the introduction of monetary penalties for breaches of the Code, one can only hope that this time the Government gets it right. The fear of being fined by the ACCC for what might be a technical breach of the Code, when a grower and wholesaler are simply trying to do business efficiently and cost effectively, is a very real concern. Year in Review No doubt 2008 will go down as a year of extremes – from the weather to the economy. The article on p24 provides a year in review from the perspective of the Brisbane Markets. It was another busy year in the Markets, with some very positive outcomes for the industry.

BRISBANE MARKETS LIMITED ABN 39 064 983 017 PO Box 80, Brisbane Markets, Brisbane, Queensland 4106 e: [email protected] w: www.brisbanemarkets.com.au ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Marketing and Communications Manager Brisbane Markets Limited p: 07 3915 4200 or 1800 631 002 e: [email protected] DESIGN Effigy p: 07 3265 4445 | PRINT Buckner Printing p: 07 3865 9677

Fresh Source is the magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited. New editions of the magazine are printed bi-monthly. Advertising and editorial inquiries are welcome and media outlets are invited to use written material with or without acknowledgement.

3 Contents Fresh Updates

News in brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p4

Fresh FROM THE MARKETS

Black cat date for Markets’ gala dinner set. . . . . . p6 New flyers showcase Brisbane Markets’ services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p6 Fruity Christmas spirit for special kids. . . . . . . . . . p7 Safety isn’t seasonal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p8 Short but fluro sweet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p8 Seasonal reminder for the New Year. . . . . . . . . . . p9

Mandatory Code

No Ho! Ho! Ho! for code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p10 Growers join call for change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p10

Fresh WHOLESALING

Appointed to Primary Industries top job . . . . . . . p11 Pallet reporting system locates “lent” pallets. . . . p12 Spicy tour of the markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p12

The Year Ahead Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) will be looking at a number of new development projects in 2009 with an ongoing priority on site infrastructure upgrading, and a focus on operational initiatives relating to site operation, cleanliness and security. The first development projects will be the new western access road, car parks and formation of a new building platform in the north west of the site. This project will pave the way for a number of other projects identified as part of BML’s Master Plan. It will also provide for a review of existing access control and parking arrangements within the existing site. Season’s Greetings On behalf of the team at Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark, I wish all our readers a safe and enjoyable festive season and a prosperous 2009.

Andrew Young Chief Executive Officer

Fresh industry

Final days to appeal banana import decision. . . . p13 Support for junk food advert ban. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p14 When you suspect a “sickie”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p15 AUSVEG members adopt new constitution. . . . . p15

Fresh Environment

Climate change is coming ready or not. . . . . . . . . . . p17 Obama a supporter for renewable energy sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p17

fresh finance

Financial uncertainty can lead to hasty decisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p18 Tips for surviving volatile markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p19

Fresh living

Christmas food poisoning warning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p20

fresh retailing

Brady’s bunch takes out greengrocer award . . . . . p21

Fresh kids

Top Queensland schools and tuckshops honored in state awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p22 Queensland’s greenest and healthiest school . . p22 All things great and fresh in Bundy. . . . . . . . . . . . . p23

YEAR IN REVIEW

Brisbane Markets 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p24

FRESH AND HEALTHY

Supermarkets lose their fresh food shoppers. . . . p29 Celebrate christmas with healthy eating. . . . . . . . . p30

calendar

Mark your diaries in 2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p31

Updates Growcom suffers a seven year financial itch The global financial crisis has been blamed for Queensland’s peak horticulture growers’ organisation, Growcom including a net after-tax loss for the 2007/08 financial year of $841,235. It is the organisation’s seventh consecutive loss since 2001/02, resulting in the organisations net assets declining to the current level of $3.876 million. With revenue for the financial year at $5.5 million, down marginally from the previous year and the decision to write down the organisation’s assets by $610,000, all eyes are on the newly

installed chief executive Alex Livingstone to steer the organisation to a breakeven position by 30 June 2009.

HAL welcomes new directors Three new directors were elected to the Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) Board at the company’s recent Annual General Meeting. Professor Rob Clark AM, Lisa Cork and former Growcom CEO Jan Davis were elected to fill the three vacancies on the Board. The vacancies on the Board were created after the retirement of Terry Hill, Sandra Hook and Peter Walker, all directors since HAL’s establishment in January 2001.

The three retiring directors were recognised for their contribution to Australian horticulture with a presentation from the members at the HAL Awards dinner. The HAL Board consists of nine directors: Dr Nigel Steele Scott (chair), Robert Seldon (deputy chair), Ken Boundy, Professor Rob Clark, David Cliffe, Lisa Cork, Jan Davis, Graeme Hargreaves and John Webster (managing director).

Europeans to eat wonky veg European Union (EU) nations have given the green light for wonky vegetables and odd shaped fruit to be sold. A quarter of the EU’s fruit and vegetables and fresh grown market produce are currently thrown out as they are not the right shape or colour perfect. AUSVEG has called on Australians to accept some of the less attractive fruit and recognise that growing fruit and vegetables was not as easy as

producing cans of drink that could all be manufactured to look the same. Fruit and vegetables are produced in harsher conditions that cause variations.

5 5

Funds for Queensland showgrounds One of the great ways to showcase fruit and vegetables is through the local show circuit, which is about to gain a $2 million boost from the Queensland Government.

Showgrounds around the State will receive a welcome injection of funds through annual show society grants with more than 130 show societies sharing in the money.

$13k for endangered macadamias A group dedicated to preserving an endangered variety of macadamia nut tree has taken a step forward, with Federal Government funding. The Macadamia Conservation Committee says the world’s only Macadamia Janseni are growing in a native forest near Miriam Vale, northwest of Bundaberg.

“These Janseni trees are growing in an area where they’re subject to a lot more heat than the commercial varieties,” Mr McConachie said. “So it may be possible that they have genes that will be used in plant breeding when climate change is affecting where we’re growing our macadamias.”

Now $13,000 of taxpayers’ money will be added to other contributions to preserve the rare trees.

ACCC fertiliser report not believed

Fertiliser prices have near trebled in some cases in recent years. The ACCC said that there was nothing untoward occurring but the Senate Select Committee, which has been investigating the matter since the start of the year, isn’t convinced.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that Australia’s trade deficit for vegetables has tripled during the past three years to $315 million. AUSVEG chief economist Ian James said the loss of market share in frozen and fresh vegetables was “a major concern”. Last financial year, for the first time, Australia has imported a greater tonnage of horticultural produce than it exported. Exports totalled 348,227 tonnes in 2007/08 financial year, which was higher than the 349,513 tonnes of imports. The value of vegetable imports increased 23%, and 42% in the frozen sector. Every category of vegetable reported an increase in imports as the trade deficit increased by $116 million, up from $199 million in 2006/07.

Committee chairman Ian McConachie said just 21 trees have been found and he is hoping more can be grown.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has had to explain to a parliamentary committee a report it produced after investigating the enormous hike in fertiliser prices.

Importing more than we export

There is concern that there is collusion or cartel behaviour taking place in the fertiliser industry. Senator Bill Heffernan, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries, said he had seen clear evidence of a monopoly operating in fertiliser sales.

Six years ago Australia had a vegetable trade surplus of $67 million. Vegetable exports dropped for the sixth year running in 2007/08, down a further 4.7%.

from the

Markets Black cat date for Markets’ gala dinner set Watch out for black cats and try your luck with lottery tickets because the 2009 Brisbane Produce Market Gala Dinner date has been set for Friday, 13 March 2009, Black Friday.

It’s an important evening, with the announcement of the Brisbane Produce Market Retailer of the Year, awarding our top Fresh Tastes greengrocer from a highly competitive field.

The annual night of music, comedy, awards and pizzazz is a “must do” event for up to 600 people within the Brisbane Markets community.

For more information on the night, contact Brisbane Markets’ Amy Garner on 07 3915 4200 or [email protected].

Next year’s event will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre.

New flyers showcase Brisbane Markets’ services Three updated information flyers will hit the streets before Christmas, with some great information on the Brisbane Produce Market, including services for growers.

For a set of the new flyers, contact Industry Liaison Officer Vanessa Kennedy on 07 3915 4200, 0438 388 111 or email [email protected] and pick up an informative Growers Kit along the way.

The trio of flyers spotlight the many Brisb and varied services and programs that ane Mark Bris Brisbane M ets H arkets Hotli G ban Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark otlin ne ot Pr eM a e Go omotions ark and progra t G R o t E ets a B m D r s a isban jointly fund each year. R H i E O e Pro Hotli red hot Facts ssue? T D i duce ne s H s Websites u a Mark Fact nd e? OT s issue? fi et ures 18gu0res Services for growers includeandafiggrower 18 0 63 00 1 00 1800 631 63 2 hotline, industry liaison support, 002 10 02 FreshTest chemical residue and microbial testing, hosting grower delegations, providing grower kits, industry representation and regional tours. Bris

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7

Fruity Christmas spirit for special kids Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers and staff are set to bring a fruity spirit to Christmas this year for more than 3,000 special and disadvantaged children at the annual Golden Casket Variety Special Children’s Christmas Party. For the thirteenth year wholesalers are again preparing to donate carton after carton of sweet festive fruit and vegetables for the event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, doing their bit to help make one day of the year a memorable event for kids who are terminally ill, intellectually or physically impaired.

Summa Strawberry and Bazza Banana are ready once again to give a cuddle, have a dance and hand out the healthy treats. When the kids are not munching there will be plenty more to do with rides, face painting, musical entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. Ross Cristaldi (left) from Brisbane Markets wholesaler R W Pascoe and his friend Summa Strawberry greet children at LAST YEAR’S Special Children’s Christmas Party.

It isn’t just the apples and stonefruit, grapes, bananas and melons that keep the kids smiling from ear to ear each year.

LEASING NOW Southgate East Commercial Offices

Features

Locality:

sModernOFlCESPROFESSIONALLYAPPOINTED SOMEWITHADJACENTBALCONIES s/FFEREDASopen-plan READYFORlTOUT sAir conditionedTHROUGHOUT s3ERVICEDBYTWOENTRANCESANDAlift sCovered parkingWITHAMPLE VISITORSPACES s15mins from the CBD

Sherwood Road, Rocklea.!DJACENTTOAMAJORINDUSTRYHUB THE 3OUTH'ATE%AST#OMMERCIAL#ENTREHASEXCELLENTEXPOSUREONTO 3HERWOOD2OADWITHCLOSEPROXIMITYTOAN!USTRALIA0OST .!" !4-S CAFESANDFASTFOODOUTLETS 4HESEOFlCESPRESENTASPROFESSIONALSUITESOFFERINGlRSTCLASS ACCOMMODATIONTHATWILLSUITARANGEOFSERVICE PROVIDERSANDPROFESSIONALlRMS

71m 2 to 123m 2 !LLENQUIRIESTOTricia Williams 0ROPERTY-ANAGER 07 3915 4200 – [email protected]

from the

Markets Safety isn’t seasonal QUICK STATS Each year in Queensland:

It is estimated in 2008/09:

• Approximately 100 people are killed as a result of work-related accidents and diseases.

• About one in every 22 workers will suffer some form of compensable work-related injury or disease.

• In 2007/08 around 105,000 Queenslanders lodged a workers compensation claim.

Safe Work Australia places a national focus on workplace safety. Queensland’s aim during the Safe Work Australia Week is to encourage all working Queenslanders to get involved in, and concentrate on, safety in their workplace to reduce death, injury and disease. Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) along with Brismark, joined forces and did just that, with a focus on reward and education during the week-long event held in October. With over 300 registered forklifts on the 77-hectare Brisbane Markets site, forklift safety was the obvious choice.

Over the five-day blitz, more than 200 forklifts were pulled over by BML Market Officers and if they passed the strict safety criteria, operators were rewarded with a meal and drink combo from one of the Brisbane Markets food-outlet sponsors of the event. By the end of the week, 90% of the forklifts operators were compliant with the Market community strongly supporting Safe Work Australia Week. Since Safe Work Australia Week finished, Brismark has had an influx of enquiries and bookings for their “forklift operator” course which is facilitated through an external registered training organisation.

Short but fluoro sweet What’s short, fluorescent yellow and found in the Brisbane Produce Market? Children, and lots of them now wearing fluorescent yellow hats, all part of Brisbane Markets commitment to on-going site-safety. With close to 750 Queensland schools registered with the Brisbane Markets Queenlsand Kids Fresh Net program (QKFN), more schools are taking advantage of an early morning tour of the Brisbane Produce Market. In the 2008 school year, more than 350 Queensland children have toured the

Brisbane Produce Market, Queensland’s vibrant fruit and vegetable hub, learning about the importance of a healthy balanced diet, eating and sampling some of the fresh produce while they are introduced to market life.

9

Seasonal reminder for the New Year Take a look in this edition of Fresh Source magazine for your handy Christmas gift that will be useful throughout 2009. It is a colourful Season Planner, perfect for your coldroom door or for easy reference on the wall of your office. It is 12 months since the last planner was produced with great feedback from a number of growers who have all the information they need on the Brisbane Markets at a glance as well as being a great calendar resource.

This year we have added some more information on the services on offer from Brisbane Markets’, grower delegations and regional tours through to handy grower kits and sponsorship opportunities. To order more for your office, contact Kelly Turner on 07 3915 4200 or email [email protected]. BRISBANE

SEASONAL

QLD SCHOOL

HOLIDAYS

002 1800 631 2010 CALENDAR

AT A GLANCE

HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAYS QLD SCHOOL

HOLIDAYS

& MARKET INDUSTRY

LOCATION

QLD

GROWER SERVICES

NTP FORKLIFTS AUSTRALIA

HOTLINE

red hot

issue?

QLD SCHOOL

QLD SCHOOL

The planner includes Queensland school holidays, public holidays and agriculture show dates and is ideal for planning your year. There are also reminders of our key programs and contact details.

MARKETS

Got a

9

PLANNER 200

IDAYS SCHOOL HOL

MAP

Update

code

No Ho! Ho! Ho! for Code With only a few sleeps left until Christmas it is unlikely that the Federal Government will announce any response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct. As part of its review of the retail grocery industry, the ACCC recommended 13 key amendments to the Code. These amendments cover a range of areas and attempt to address a number of the concerns being raised by various groups within the industry.

The HCC was appointed to advise the Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on the operation of the Horticulture Code of Conduct. Recent changes to the the HCC have seen additions in its membership so as to reflect the ACCC’s recommended amendments to the Code with the inclusion of retailers, exporters and processors. It would now appear that even under the best case scenario, any amendments to the Code are unlikely to be implemented before mid to late 2009.

The Horticulture Code Committee (HCC) met in early December with outcomes of that meeting and the approach to be taken in relation to the review of the Code yet to be made known.

Growers join call for change There are many within the fresh produce industry who think that after three to four years of debate, confusion and conflict, the existing Horticulture Code of Conduct has not achieved its objectives in terms of promoting better business practices. The ongoing debate surrounding the Code has no doubt been a major distraction to other issues that the industry faces such as industry promotions, increasing domestic consumption, biosecurity etc. For this reason, Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) and Brismark together with other representative organsisations are proposing a compromise position whereby the Code is amended to: • Establish core contractural requirements • Prescribe the specific commercial issues to be addressed in terms of trade documents • Provide for a dispute resolution framework

Recently Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young communicated with various grower associations clearly outlining BML and Brismark’s position and requesting support for a industry based outcome. Mr Young said that working together with grower organisations may offer a way forward in gaining industry support for a range of amendments to the Code which serve the best interests of the broader industry. “Ultimately the Government will make a decision as to the future of the Code, and it makes sense to work together so as to achieve a workable outcome for the whole industry,” Mr Young said. For more information contact Brismark’s Policy and Service Development Manager, Dianne Fullelove on 07 3915 4222 or email [email protected]

11

Wholesaling Appointed to Primary Industries top job Acting Director-General of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F), Rob Setter has been appointed permanently to the role.

Newly appointed Director General ROB SETTER discusses industy issues and BML expansion plans at recent Brisbane Produce Market visit. From Left BML Chairman Tony Joseph, QDPI&F Executive Director Industry & INVESTMENT SUE RYAN, QDPI&F DG Rob Setter AND Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young.

Mr Setter was previously Deputy Director-General and has played a strong role in extending the department’s capacity in education and training. The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin said the transition of the Australian Agricultural College Corporation into the QDPI&F was a significant step forward in addressing the critical skills and labour shortage impacting

on the productivity of Queensland’s primary industries sector. This transition and the overarching plan for improving skills in the sector has been driven by Mr Setter’s extensive knowledge and passion for education and training. The primary industries sector is expected to earn $34 billion for the Queensland economy by 2020.

Wholesaling Pallet reporting system locates “lent” pallets The Brismark Credit Service’s new pallet reporting system is working a treat for wholesalers keeping a track of their “lent” pallets to buyers and saving them hundreds of dollars when they are returned. Australia’s Central Markets process thousands of transactions every day and pallets play an important role in moving produce efficiently to buyers. Many buyers do not have accounts with the major pallet suppliers so wholesalers “lend” the pallets that carry fruit and vegetables to their stores. Brismark General Manager Ian Main said the practice imposed a significant cost on wholesalers. “Not only do they bear the pallet hire cost, they also have to account for missing pallets. Brismark introduced the pallet reporting system to help reduce the cost and address a number of logistical problems,” Mr Main said.

“Brismark receives weekly reports from wholesalers detailing the number of pallets each buyer owes. “The data is consolidated and Pallet Statements are produced for each buyer showing the number of pallets they owe to every participating wholesaler. “Brismark also compares this information with each buyer’s purchases to identify those who are not returning pallets promptly.” Mr Main said the new statements have been well received by buyers. It helps to know who to return pallets to. The system has identified some discrepancies in record keeping and allowed these to be addressed. He said it had also imposed new disciplines on the wholesalers that will help them to better control their pallet accounts.

Spicy tour of the markets Australian Herbs and Spices Association members walked in the footsteps of hundreds of other growers recently when they toured the Brisbane Produce Market to be part of the colour and verve of the trading floor. Brisbane Markets hosted eight grower delegations in 2008, including pineapple, mango, melon, avocado, onion, apple and pear growers.

Groups speak with wholesalers, learn how the central trading system operates, have breakfast and attend a tailored workshop with speakers of their choosing. For further information, contact Industry Liaison Officer Vanessa Kennedy on 07 3915 4200, 0438 388 111 or email [email protected].

Industry

13

Final days to appeal banana import decision Brisbane Markets wholesalers have joined the chorus of growers concerned Australia’s $380 million banana industry could be wiped out by disease if Philippine Cavendish bananas are welcomed into Australia – but they must put concerns on paper. Australia’s borders could be open to banana imports from the Philippines, after a 600-page report released in November from Biosecurity Australia looked at the risks imposed by foreign bananas on Australian crops. The news sent shockwaves through the nation’s banana growers, who remember battling a $20 million, four-year war to save plantations from banana disease black sigatoka.

Time is running out for growers to lodge an appeal, although an Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) spokesman said there were “very narrow grounds” left to make one. Mr Tony Heidrich, CEO, Australian Banana Growers Council, said that there were concerns that despite biosecurity measures, there is no guarantee the Philippines will keep their end of the bargain to keep identified pest groups out of Australia. He said growers were not concerned about the bananas in terms of competition, just the diseases that could come in with the bananas.

Appeals close 20 February 2009 and must by sent to the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel Secretariat, Corporate Policy Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601 or email [email protected]. Banana production is worth $417 million to Australian growers and an estimated $890 million at retail level.

Industry Support for junk food advert ban The Queensland Government is considering a ban on junk food advertising in children’s television viewing times, and Brisbane Markets has added its voice to the discussion. Brismark and Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) has forwarded a joint submission to Queensland Health on the issue. The submission says the focus of children’s television advertising should be on healthy eating and centred on foods like fruit and vegetables. Advertising of high-fat and high-sugar foods on popular television programs has an adverse effect on the eating habits of children. Although the fresh produce industry does promote fruit and vegetable consumption, it cannot compete with the advertising budgets of large multi-national ‘junk food’ companies. Brismark and BML support Option B in Queensland Health’s discussion paper that would remove junk food advertising from viewing between 7:00amam to 8:30pm. Although organisations representing food manufacturers and retailers have pledged to implement a voluntary code of conduct for advertising food on children’s television, they are not bound by the code. Legislation by the Queensland Government will ensure that junk food advertising is removed and further support would enable promotion of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables to children during their television viewing times.

The Queensland Government’s initiative to provide regulation of junk food advertising in children’s television viewing times is supported by Brismark and BML. Along with this initiative, the government should support programs to develop healthy eating habits amongst children. Brismark and BML have a number of joint programs/initiatives which would benefit from input and support by the Queensland Government. These include Queensland Kids Fresh Net program, the Go for 2&5 campaign, fruit and vegetable recipe brochures, the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall at the Royal Brisbane Show, the Keep Australia Beautiful campaign and the Health and Nutrition Award in the Green and Healthy Schools program. It is not enough to ban junk food advertising just that type of advertising should be replaced with positive messages about foods such as fruit and vegetables.

15

When you suspect a “sickie” by: Mark Uzelin, Brismark Employment serviceS Manager As you know, employees taking illegitimate sick days can cost your business money. Recently it was reported that a Sydney employee contacted his employer and claimed he was sick and would not be at work that day. Some time later his manager saw the employee’s Facebook entry for the day in question which showed the employee stating that he,”…is not going to work, I’m still trashed. SICKIE WOO!” In this particular case, the manager had proof that the employee was not taking leave for medical reasons as claimed. Therefore, the manager was justified in requesting a medical certificate, despite the fact that the employee’s employment conditions stipulated he was not required to provide a medical certificate for taking one day off work.

But what can you do if you do not have proof that your employees “sickie” is illegitimate? If you have reasonable grounds to believe that your employee’s absence is not legitimate, remember that you can request a medical certificate. If the employee provides you with one, you must accept it as evidence of their illness. If you doubt the accuracy of the certificate, all you can do is seek clarification from the doctor who signed it. Once you have received confirmation from the doctor, you cannot take the issue further. However, if the employee cannot provide a medical certificate legitimising their absence, you are well within your rights to deny them paid sick leave.

AUSVEG members adopt new constitution AUSVEG members were unanimous in their decision to adopt a new constitution for the company that allows all national vegetable and potato levy-payers the opportunity to become members. The changes mean growers will be better represented, according to several key industry figures. Following the adoption of a new constitution AUSVEG Ltd appointed a new Board of Directors, comprising seven state-representative which include John Brent, Queensland (interim Chairman), Geoff Moar (New South Wales), Romeo Giangregorio (South Australia), John Said (Victoria), and Jim Trandos (Western Australia). Representatives from Tasmania and the Northern Territory are yet to be determined. Tasmanian farmer Mike Badcock, who resigned as chairman of AUSVEG in April this year because at that time the Board

wouldn’t support the new constitution, was nominated by Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA) as that state’s representative to the new Board. This nomination was rejected by AUSVEG with no real reason being forthcoming, although TFGA have asked for the reasons in writing. Mr John Brent, Queensland vegetable grower and member of the Growcom Board, has said he will meet with TFGA to discuss their nomination and the refusal to accept Mike Badcock onto the Board but to date, no meeting has been scheduled. No nomination had been received from the Northern Territory and only two past Board members were re-nominated. Some vegetable growers are questioning whether they are getting the voice and representation that they were promised.

Seasons Greetings It may be the festive season but to the dedicated wholesalers at the Brisbane Markets, service isn’t just a word - it’s a promise. Brismark and its members have worked hard over many years to put systems in place to provide the highest levels of service for produce marketing and distribution. The benefits of these systems include: • over 90% of wholesalers having formal third party certified food safety accreditation • provision of a dispute resolution framework • increased emphasis on cool chain management • increased access to marketing channels • increased confidence that produce is being handled correctly • greater traceability of product We look forward to working with you for a prosperous 2009. For more information on Brismark and its member wholesalers visit www.brismark.com.au

Brisbane Markets, Sherwood Road, Rocklea, Brisbane, Qld 4106, PO Box 70, Brisbane Market, Qld 4106 Ph: (07) 3915 4222 Fax: (07) 3915 4224 Email: [email protected] Web: www.brismark.com.au

17

Environment Climate change is coming ready or not Climate change will have a large impact on horticulture in a number of ways. It is expected that there will be increased rainfall in northern Australia, and less in south-east and south-west Australia. Rain events are predicted to be less in number but more intense and increased temperatures (estimates vary from 2°C to 5°C by 2100) will disrupt crop cycles, particularly for high chill produce like peaches. Increased carbon dioxide levels will achieve more plant growth but only to a certain level. According to Dr John Williams from the NSW Natural Resources Commission, there would be a northward shift in agriculture in Asia and Australia. He has said that neglecting natural resources will cost us dearly into the future. The Federal Government intends to include agriculture, the nation’s second-biggest source of greenhouse emissions from 2015, in the proposed carbon-trading scheme after a review in 2013. Agriculture is responsible for 16% of emissions in Australia, of which livestock are 81%, cropping 9% and burning 10%. These are carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4 and nitrous oxide N2O. Livestock enterprises produce the largest amount of greenhouse gases

in the form of methane from ruminant animals. Horticulture contributes significantly less greenhouse gases, mainly in the form of nitrous oxide from soils and fertilisers. The management options for decreasing the outputs are: • Apply fertiliser at optimum rates at a time to meet crop needs • Avoid surface application of fertiliser and use granulated forms • Use nitrification inhibitors in fertiliser • Use mulching or cover crops to utilise residual nitrogen. These practices are well understood in the horticulture industry in Queensland but may not be as widely adopted in other states. The proposed Federal Government climate change policies could encourage farmers to shift from conventional food crops to trees. The National Farmers Federation has warned that food production could be threatened as trees, which were less susceptible to climate variation could be planted to reap the financial rewards of carbon trading permits. The market for stored carbon tends to revolve around carbon being in trees but in the future, we will view a farm differently and examine the carbon within soil and vegetation. We can’t eat trees.

Obama a supporter of renewable energy sources A new era in the United States could mean changes to agricultural policy that would affect agriculture worldwide. President-elect Barack Obama is a keen supporter of renewable energy sources from farming. In the farm versus fuel debate, Obama has said “I think cornbased ethanol has been a critical bridge technology to make America more energy independent. Now, I think we have to realise it’s going to have some limitations. It has some environmental effects. That is why we have to help, to work with farmers to make cellulosic ethanol technology widely available, economical and profitable.” Obama said he planned to “phase in” two billion gallons of cellulosic production by 2013. Corn ethanol is the most successful alternative fuel commercially available in the US but the change in land use from food farming to energy production may have a large impact on the ability of the US to feed itself. There may be opportunities for Australian farmers in the new Democrat presidency, however changes could be slow to happen as the world monetary crisis continues to focus everyone’s attention.

Finance Financial uncertainty can lead to hasty decisions SUPPLIED BY AUSTSAFE SUPER Recent volatility in the share market has seen global shares down by between 30– 50% and the Australian market down 40% from the highs of November 2007. With such uncertainty it is understandable that people are thinking about whether they should switch their superannuation investments to more conservative or lower risk investment options such as cash. It is natural for people to feel concerned about the recent volatility in the share markets and its effect on their super, however trying to time markets and switch investment options could leave you worse off. Super is for the long-term Superannuation is a long-term investment and even if you are approaching retirement, it’s likely that you will have money invested in the superannuation system for many years to come. More and more members of superannuation funds are taking advantage of pension products like the AustSafe Super Account Based and Transition to Retirement Pensions as a means of providing a retirement income. This means that most people have the luxury of time and should set their retirement goals and expectations with this in mind. There is no use looking at daily movements in share prices if you have a 10 or 20-year investment time horizon.

CUMULATIVE RETURNS

$140,000 $120,000 $100,000

It’s long-term performance that really matters! Bumps and roundabouts Most funds, including AustSafe Super, set their investment strategies for the longer term in order to ride out the bumps in investment markets, so when members base their decisions on shortterm performance they are often doing so in direct contrast to the goals of the underlying strategy. To get the best out of your super, you need to choose the investment options which best suit your long-term goals and appetite for risk. Switching between options on a regular basis can be dangerous and can have a detrimental effect on your final retirement balance. Timing the market is difficult Suppose you had invested $10,000 in the Australian share market 20 years ago. You would now have more than $90,000. If you had switched your investment in and out of the market and missed the best 24 days in the same 20 years, you would have just over $41,000. That’s less than half. Put simply, it’s difficult to pick market movements and missing just a handful of days could have serious consequences for your retirement balance. In times of extreme volatility it’s often best to look to the long term and consider your original investment goals.

All Ordinaries Performance ASX all Ordinaries Without 24 Best Days

$80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Source: “S&P/ASX All Ords and Macquarie”

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You should evaluate your goals and the risks of your investments before making a hasty decision to move to a more conservative investment option. In certain circumstances switching to a more conservative option may be appropriate, however that’s likely to apply more in situations where people have immediate or short term commitments for their super savings and capital protection is the main issue. In these circumstances its best to seek professional advice before making a decision. AustSafe Super offers members free financial advice through the Fund’s customer service centre and Money Solutions. Just call 1300 131 293 and ask to speak to a Personal Money Coach. This article is intended to provide general information only. It does not take into consideration your individual objectives or personal financial situation or needs and should not be used as a substitute for personal financial or legal advice. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance and should only be used as a historical guide. Members of AustSafe Super may seek independent financial advice from Money Solutions at no cost in most instances, contact AustSafe Super for further information on your eligibility. Based on daily movements in S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index between 04/01/1988 and 29/08/2008

Tips for surviving volatile markets Hold your nerve – switching investments options during periods of uncertainty or extreme volatility can have significant effects. Check out the costs – costs can make a big difference to your end retirement balance. Understand what your fund costs and what the combined effect of performance and fees really are. Get advice – if you are unsure or are uncomfortable with making decisions about your fund, talk to your fund about your options. Consolidate your super – transfer your super into one account and reduce your fees and make your super easier to manage. Look to the long term – remember that super is a long-term investment. Don’t get caught comparing short-term performance, compare the long term performance of your fund.

Living Christmas food poisoning warning While many think its the drinks you have at Christmas that could make you feel a bit seedy afterwards, there is a much more sinister player at work that could make this Christmas memorable for the wrong reasons. Beware food poisoning. With so much food about, it’s easy to ignore the rules when it comes to cleaning, cooking, chilling and separating your foods and leftovers in all the Christmas activity. Brismark has been pushing the food safety message by reminding wholesalers and retailers of its importance, and giving out some handy gifts along the way, including fridge temperature thermometers. Here are a few hints from the Food Safety Council so that you can cook and not make others crook this Christmas:

Chill: • Keep your fridge at five degree Celsius or below. • Keep perishable food in the fridge. • Refrigerate hot food as soon as it stops steaming. • Refrigerate leftovers promptly. • Defrost food in the fridge, not on the kitchen bench. • If in doubt, throw it out. Separate: • Keep raw meat and poultry from touching other food. • Keep raw meat and poultry in the bottom of the fridge or in a sealed container so it can’t drip onto other food. • Cover all stored food.

Clean: • Health is in the hands. Clean hands will decrease the possibilities of food poisoning markedly. • Wash and dry chopping boards, utensils and work surfaces after preparing raw meats and poultry. • Use thoroughly cleaned chopping boards, utensils and crockery for food that will not be cooked or heated before eaten, such as salads. Cook: • Cook chicken, minced or boned meats, hamburger, stuffed meats and sausages right through until all juices are clear.

Did you know?

• Defrost frozen poultry, minced, rolled and stuffed meats thoroughly before cooking.

Each year, there are an estimated 5.4 million cases of food poisoning in Australia.

• Always follow cooking instructions on packaged foods.

Of those, around a third are thought to be caused by food handling mistakes in the home.

• Reheat to steaming hot before eating.

Retailing

21

Brady’s bunch takes out greengrocer award Palmwoods fruit and veg shop Brady’s Fruit, about two hours north of Brisbane, has been announced as the Brisbane Produce Market Fresh Tastes retailer of the month for October. Owners Colin and Sandra Pearce were excited to be both rewarded and recognised for their hard work. Mr Pearce had been working in the store for 26 years before previous owner and namesake, Bob Brady, sold to the Pearce’s four years ago. Since taking over the store, Mr Pearce has focused on his strong local base of customers and offers them improved produce rotation and signage.

Mr Pearce is a familiar face around the Brisbane Markets. He makes the four hour round trip at least four times a week, to buy the freshest produce available. He has also started a range of gourmet varieties for both his local restaurant and individual customers.

have not let go of the more traditional ways. Brady’s have a team of 10 and the senior staff members are the recognised heart of customer service, with one member having been with the store for nearly 20 years.

“I bring in items like vanilla beans and fresh horseradish which might surprise some, considering our location, but we have found our own market for these products,” Mr Pearce said. While Mr and Mrs Pearce have implemented new ideas for the store they and their long serving team

Colin and Sandra Pearce in their award winning store, Brady’s Fruit.

Kids Top Queensland schools and tuckshops honored in state awards One of the best ways to encourage young people to eat fresh fruit and vegetables is through their school tuckshops and other initiatives. Once again the Brisbane Markets Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) team was on the job with Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) sponsoring the recent Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) Gala Awards Dinner and the Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland (KABQ) Green and Healthy School Awards, both held in Brisbane. Queensland’s Tuckshop of the Year: The Tuckshop of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the services provided by tuckshops across Queensland and those individuals who make it all happen, week in week out.

Brisbane Markets Marketing & Communications Manager Ann-Marie Johansen, Tuckshop Volunteer of the Year winner from Clover Hill State School George Bourne and Brismark’s Policy & Service Development Manager, Dianne Fullelove Photo: Courtesy National MarketPlace News

This award is broken into a number of categories to recognise the various challenges faced by different tuckshops: Queensland Tuckshop of the Year was St John’s College, Nambour on the Sunshine Coast .

Queensland’s greenest and healthiest school Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland named Crows Nest State School as Queensland’s Greenest and Healthiest School 2008, at Parliament House in November. Judges said that Crows Nest State School’s dedication to Environmental Protection and Health and Nutrition was evident in its wide array of innovative biodiversity projects and creative approach to fitness. One example of these projects was “Running around Australia” whereby students and teachers document and charted their daily exercise in an effort to run the entire distance around Australia. For the fifth year, Brisbane Produce Market has sponsored the Health and Nutrition award which was won by Doomadgee State School.

Brisbane Produce Market Health and Nutrition Award winners Doomadgee State School & runners up MacKay Special School with Brisbane Markets Marketing & Communications Manager, Ann-Marie Johansen (3rd from right)

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All things great and fresh in Bundy

David De Paoli, Chairman, BFVG, Naomi Guppy, BFVG & QKFN presenter, Ann-Marie Johansen, Marketing & Communications Manager, Brisbane Markets and Peter Peterson, Executive Officer, BFVG with the Brisbane Produce Market fruit and vegetable Promotional car.

The Bundaberg region is known for a vast variety of great, fresh produce including tomatoes, capsicums, potatoes, chilli, eggplants, lychees, macadamias and mangoes just to mention a few.

“BFVG is thrilled to be part of the QKFN program and is looking forward to working with our local schools in delivering health and nutrition messages to primary school aged children,” Mr Peterson said.

Now there’s another great, fresh initiative for the Bundaberg area to be proud of.

Brisbane Markets Marketing and Communications Manager AnnMarie Johansen joined the team from BFVG along with local government, private sector health industry representatives and media from tv, radio and newspapers at the QKFN launch at St Luke’s school.

The Brisbane Markets Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) has gone regional for the first time with the recent launch of the program in Bundaberg. The goal has been set to conduct over 70 classroom presentations and 18 farm tours to educate over 4,000 primary aged school children over the 2009 school year, in the Bundaberg region, including the Gin Gin and Childers areas. BFVG’s recently appointed Executive Officer Peter Peterson said that he was grateful for the funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Healthy Active Australia Community and School Grants Program and the support provided by the Brisbane Markets team in getting this program off the ground.

Thanks to the support of the Brisbane Markets and the Commonwealth Government’s Healthy Active Australia Community and School Grant Program, BFVG expects to deliver school presentations and farm tours to over 4,000 primary school aged children in 2009

BFVG is now able to deliver classroom presentations and farm tours for the 43 eligible schools, in their region for free.

Ms Johansen said that it was exciting to see the program expand from the Brisbane area. “The Bundaberg region has always been able to receive access to free QKFN resources but up until now school presentations at primary schools have been restricted to schools that are within an hour’s drive from Brisbane Markets,” Ms Johansen said. Over 750 Queensland schools are registered in the Brisbane Markets QKFN program. For more information on QKFN in Bundaberg contact BFVG Administration Manager Naomi Guppy on [email protected] or 07 4153 3007.

Review The year in

Brisbane Markets 2008 It was another year of progress for Brisbane Markets with infrastructure improvements moving forward and industry engagement continuing to be a priority.

• Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young continues as one of the 13-member Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand Country Council to guide the organisation on the best value and services it can provide to the Australasian area.

• Negotiations were progressed with the Brisbane City Council and the Development Application in respect of the 9.7ha South Gate Stage 2 site.

a

• Since 2004 BML has continued to join with Brismark to contribute substantial funds to communicate with growers, government and media at significant industry events

b

a Farmer Joe’s Country Market was

named the Fresh Tastes Retailer of the Year at the annual Brisbane Produce Market Gala Dinner.

C

b 153 independent greengrocers

registered for the Fresh Tastes program, a custom designed program designed to foster excellence in fresh produce retailing and to encourage the public to buy from their local greengrocer. New in-store point of sale material was developed, a consumer competition was launched and the retailers were kept up-to-date through E the launch of e-newsletters.

D

c Continuation of a Memorandum of

Understanding with Bowen District Growers Association. d Brisbane Flower Markets experienced a

busy Valentines Day and Mothers Day.

F

E Over 150 delegates attended Fruition

2008, Annual Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Conference, hosted by Brismark, sponsored by BML in Brisbane. • BML purchased 1.74 ha of land at Larapinta for $4.98 million.

g

• BML finished the 2007/08 financial year with an assessed value of turnover of $1.074 billion, a new record up by 6.3% on last year’s figures. H

25

• Brisbane Produce Market recorded annual trade in the 2007/08 in excess of 578,000 tonnes, up by 3.9% on the throughput in the last financial year.

i

h

• A 6.9% increase in BML’s Group Revenues (excluding revaluation revenue) was achieved for the 2007/08 financial year. f Market Clean Up Day removed 33

tonnes of general waste. 12 tonnes of cardboard and steel was recycled reducing overall waste disposal costs of about 25%. g Re-usable cardboard recycling

volumes increased 20%.

J

J

• Electrical infrastructure upgrading continued with the installation of upgraded distribution boards in key warehouse and selling floor areas. • BML’s commitment to fire services upgrading continued with new automatic fire detection systems retrofitted to three warehouses and an office block. • A multi-lingual safety induction program was launched. • A Rights Issue to eligible shareholders was fully subscribed and raised $9.96 million for BML. • Payment of an annual dividend for 2007/08 year of nine cents/share fully franked in line with policy plus a special dividend payment of 0.5cent per share, fully franked. This is a total dividend of 9.5 cents compared to a total of 9 cents in 2006/07. • Tenant co-operation was achieved so as to reduce water consumption by 55% over 2005 levels. • Wholesaler service organisation Brismark strengthens its stake in BML by increasing its shareholding to just over 30%. h Over 1,000 kids donned chefs hats to

learn to cook while local Fresh Tastes greengrocers, including Sam Fichera of Cannon Hill Fresh (pictured), dazzled show visitors with their cooking prowess at the Brisbane Markets Agriculture Hall at the 10-day 2008 Royal Queensland Show (EKKA).

K

Review The year in

Brisbane Markets 2008 – 27% of all visitors (as surveyed at the EKKA) visited the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall – the Brisbane Markets Agricultural Hall is in the top five Exhibit Areas and Pavilions. i Go for 2 & 5 campaign shifted

consumption from one to two serves of vegetables per day to three to four serves of vegetables per day.

l

m

J Queensland Minister of Primary

Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin officially opened the $33 million multitenant state-of-the-art South Gate East warehouse and commercial centre development considered to be an important first step in BML’s 10-year master plan for the site.

print post approved pp 424022/00429

ISSUE: TWENTY-TWO OCT/2008

#

Magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited

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Work Safe Australia Week 2008 where forklift drivers were rewarded for their m compliant behaviour. Auction raised more than $46,000 for children’s charities Redkite and Life Education Queensland with Fresh Tastes retailer Carlo Lorenti from Clayfield Markets Fresh, Clayfield, crowned the 2008 Mango King after bidding $20,000 for the symbolic first tray of mangoes. • The Development Application relating to the proposed new western access road, car parks and building platform gains Brisbane City Council approval.

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k Brisbane Markets took part in a busy

l The Annual Brisbane Markets Mango

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• Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young continues on the Future Focus Industry Leadership Group to provide insight into the strategic issues confronting horticulture.

p

m An ongoing range of initiatives were

funded to help build on relationships with growers: Fresh Source, Grower Hotline 1800 631 002 free call service, dedicated Industry Liaison Officer, FreshTest, grower delegations, grower kits, seasonal wall planner, industry representation, regional tours, industry promotions and sponsorships.

Q

q

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p The Brisbane Produce Market’s

Industry Liaison Officer met with farmers in the Bundaberg region, Sunshine Coast, Granite Belt, Burdekin, Bowen and the Griffith regions to enhance relationships and discuss numerous industry issues that affected both growers and the Central Markets system. q Grower organisations were the

As for the rest of the year, the potato received great positive notoriety.

Fresh market information Fruit & Vegetable Marketing Consultants Totally Independent and Impartial • Brisbane Daily Fruit and Vegetable Market Reports • Historic Market Data and Market Intelligence Reports

• Waste Verification and Digital Photography

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• Established Interstate Network For All Services

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• Quality Inspections and Loss Assessments

• Independent Produce Assessments and Downgrading N E MA

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• Outturn and Pre-Export Inspections and Assessments

• Temperature Monitoring and Logger Recovery

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winners with Brisbane Produce Market sponsoring the Australian Melon Conference, Bowen District Growers Association’s gala dinner, Queensland Strawberry Growers Association conference, Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival and the Northern Territory Horticultural Association Horti-doo gala dinner.

Queensland potato growers are being urged to look out for signs of disease in their potato crops.

Next year the humble potato will be relegated back to chips, mash and baked recipes again as the UN changes its International Year focus.

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• Over 23 industry groups with over 400 people including growers, industry associations, food service representatives and media took the opportunity to tour the Brisbane Produce Markets trading floor through tailored delegation programs.

The region was quarantined because of the discovery of the pest disease potato cyst nematode on a farm in October.

The potato was chosen by the United Nations because it was a staple food in the diet of the world’s population. The annual celebrations were to affirm the need to focus world attention on the role that the potato could play in providing food security and eradicating poverty.

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Kids Fresh Net team visited over 100 Queensland schools, presented to more than 5,500 students and conducted 13 tours of the Brisbane Markets, hosting more than 400 students to educate young Queenslanders on the importance of a healthy, balanced diet.

It was a tough farewell for the United Nations International Year of the Potato 2008 with an outbreak of potato cyst nematode discovered in Thorpedale, in Victoria’s Gippsland.

S

o The Brisbane Markets Queensland

Tough farewell for Year of the Potato

B RI

• Industry and mainstream media continued their interest in the BML brands with a focus on the Brisbane Produce Market, Brisbane Market South Gate, Brisbane Flower Market and Brisbane MarketPlace. n BML website has seen more industry and customers log-on to www.brisbanemarkets.com.au than ever before.

E S U RV

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Ph (07) 3379 4576 Fax (07) 3379 4103 Infocall 1902 262 580 E-mail [email protected] Web www.ausmarket.net.au

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Sampson Hybrid Pumpkin Sampson Hybrid Pumpkin Simply outstanding Simply outstanding

Sampson is the in a of series new Pumpkins Hybrid Pumpkins outENZA of thebreeding ENZA breeding programme. Sampson is the first in afirst series new of Hybrid coming coming out of the programme. Outstanding skin & skin flesh&colour Outstanding flesh colour Sampson is proving its worth growers around around the country. The variety excellent skin colour it’s lightly ribbed skin Sampson is proving itsto worth to growers the country. Thehas variety has excellent skinand colour and it’s surfacelightly makes Sampson ideal formakes processing because to higher recovery and ribbed skin surface Sampson idealthis for leads processing because thisrates leads to easier higherprocessing. recovery rates Sampson hasprocessing. excellent internal qualities. The excellent flesh is a internal deep orange colour coupled withorange this is acolour small seed cavity. andalso easier Sampson also has qualities. Theand flesh is a deep

and coupled with this is a small seed cavity.

Outstanding versatility & yield

Outstanding versatility & yield

Sampson is proving to be extremely versatile in where it can be grown - our trials are delivering consistent high quality fruit Sampson is proving to beThe extremely versatile in with where it canvarieties be grown - our trials arefore delivering consistent and yields throughout Australia. vigour associated Hybrid is coming to the and giving growers high quality exceptional results.fruit and yields throughout Australia. The vigour associated with Hybrid varieties is coming to Sampson provides yield potential - the high shoulders enhance it’s fruit weight which is typically 5-7kg. the also fore and givingexceptional growers exceptional results.

Sampson also provides exceptional yield potential - the high shoulders enhance it’s fruit weight which is typically 5-7kg.

Outstanding resistance

Virus resistance in Pumpkins is becoming an issue with many growers. Sampson has intermediate resistance to Zucchini Yellow resistance MosaicOutstanding Virus, Watermelon Mosaic Virus and Papaya Ringspot Virus. This combination allows Sampson to perform at its best under Virus pressure and delivers high yields of exceptional quality fruit. resistance in Pumpkins is becoming an issue with many growers. Sampson has intermediate

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retailers to make the most out of the variety which we are sure will become a market standard in the years ahead.

Outstanding storage & shipping

For more information on this outstanding hybrid pumpkin variety call your local Terranova representative.

North Queensland/ Northern Territory David Campbell Mobile: 0437 890 920

Wide Bay, Burnett

SE Queensland

Victoria

Western Australia

Queensland/ Northern New South Wales Aaron Lukritz Mobile: 0407 256 521

Mobile: 0418 479 062 New South Wales Charlie Vella Mobile: 0419 286 370

Mobile: 0418 532 650 South Australia Greg Bragg Mobile: 0419 635 548

Mobile: 0417 930 233 Tasmania Greg Hall Mobile: 0417 227 873

Jamieyour Hagart local Terranova representative. regions/ Coastal SEthis outstanding Michael Sippel For more information on hybrid pumpkin Graeme Judd variety call

Sales Orders: Phone: (02) 9725 1088 Fax: (02) 9725 1066. For production guides and cultural notes visit: www.tnseeds.com North Queensland/ Northern Territory David Campbell Mobile: 0437 890 920

Wide Bay, Burnett regions/ Coastal SE Queensland/ Northern New South Wales Steven Williams Mobile: 0407 256 521

SE Queensland Michael Sippel Mobile: 0418 479 062 New South Wales Charlie Vella Mobile: 0419 286 370

Victoria Ben Whykes Mobile: 0418 532 650 Tasmania Greg Hall Mobile: 0417 227 873

South Australia Greg Bragg Mobile: 0419 635 548 Western Australia Jamie Hagart Mobile: 0417 930 233

TERRA 5753

TERRA 7172

Sampson also has good storage and shipping characteristics which is allowing growers, market agents and retailers to make the most out of the variety which we are sure will become a market standard in the yearsPhone: ahead. Sales Orders: (02) 9725 1088 Fax: (02) 9725 1066. For production guides and cultural notes visit: www.tnseeds.com

and

Healthy

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Celebrate Christmas with healthy eating Christmas presents the perfect opportunity for Queenslanders to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables in abundance. Queensland Health’s Go for 2&5 campaign promotes a daily consumption target of at least two serves of fruit and five of vegetables in order to stay healthy and avoid chronic diseases. The campaign has successfully completed the third of a four phase educational campaign, promoting the memorable ‘Dame Edna’ inspired vegetable character that was seen on Queensland televisions from 2006 until early 2008. Since starting the campaign in 2005, the average Queenslander has increased consumption by 0.7 serves a day.

estimated that the market value of an extra half a serve of fruit and vegetables a day is $869 million in increased revenue every year! Within the first month of the Go for 2&5 campaign Brisbane retail sales of fruit and vegetables increased by $9.3 million. For more information on Go for 2&5, or for delicious summer recipes, visit www.gofor2&5.com.au.

This is great news for Queenslanders who will experience better health and vitality and as a result save around $35 million per year in health care expenses. The fruit and vegetable industry also benefits. Nationally it’s conservatively

Wishing you and your family all the best this Christmas

and

Healthy Specialty food shops gain fresh food shoppers A report by the Nielson Company has shown an increase in the number of consumers frequently shopping in specialty fresh food outlets, including their local greengrocers. “Quality of fresh food offer” is the number one reason cited by consumers for shopping away from supermarkets for traditional fresh food outlets also including fish markets, butchers and bakeries. The report said supermarkets remained the dominant retail trade channel driven by frequent consumer patronage. The vast majority of consumers said that they most frequently visited a supermarket when it came to purchasing categories such as ice-cream, biscuits, shampoo, laundry detergent, snacks, confectionary and cooking oil.

However when it came to purchasing fresh produce, supermarket loyalty was the loser, with only three in five consumers claiming to most frequently purchase their fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh meat, chicken, fish or seafood from a supermarket. About a third of respondents said they most frequently bought their fruit and vegetables in a traditional greengrocer and their fresh meat, chicken and seafood at a butcher or fish shop. Overwhelmingly it was the perception of quality that was the driving factor – with 80% of the these respondents citing quality as one of the reasons, followed by price, location, range/choice and service supplying.

events

Calendar 6-7 June

horticulture industry.

4-6 May

19-22 February Chinchilla Melon Festival 2008, Chinchilla, Qld Contact: 0419 707 843 or visit www.melonfest.com.au This event is a celebration of all things melon with family concerts, street competitions and games, including the dare devil sports of melon skiing and melon bungee.

13 March Brisbane Produce Market Gala Dinner, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Qld Contact: Amy Garner on 07 3915 4200 or [email protected] The annual dinner and awards night is a must for the Markets community.

18-20 March Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries conference, Crown Towers, Melbourne, Vic Contact: 03 9689 3233 or email [email protected] Annual event for Australia’s marketing sector to get together to to look at topical industry issues and opportunities. This year’s theme is ‘Focus ’ 09 – Markets in Time’.

14 April Bowen District Growers Association annual dinner. Contact: Denise Kreymborg on 07 4785 2860 or email [email protected] Annual gala dinner and networking function for growers and the

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2009 Australian Vegetable Industry Conference, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Vic Contact: 03 9544 8098 or email [email protected] or visit www.vegieconf.com.au Over 500 delegates attended the 2007 conference, highlighting the importance of a national event to encourage networking and unity between growers, researchers, the supply chain and service providers across Australia.

7-8 May National Vegetable Expo, Werribee, Vic Contact: 03 9544 8098 or email [email protected] or visit www.vegieconf.com.au Hundreds of exhibitors take part in this huge industry event that includes the latest in farming equipment, products and seed varieties.

25-28 May 7th Australian Mango Conference, Cairns International Hotel, Qld Contact: 07 3846 1866, 0400 808 689, email [email protected] or visit www.mangoes.net.au Biannual national conference including field day, new tools and technology, plenary sessions and workshops and great networking opportunities.

4-6 June 8th Australian Banana Industry Congress, Conrad Jupiter’s, Gold Coast, Qld Contact: 07 3254 0522, or email [email protected] Biannual national conference with an emphasis on new technology, science and banana promotion.

Gayndah Orange Festival, Gayndah, Qld Contact: 07 4140-8971 or email [email protected]. Biannual festival to celebrate the citrus industry, with street parades, art show, dances, live music and a range of other toe tapping and fun events to celebrate the district.

19-22 July 2009 National Conference of the Australian Hydroponics & Greenhouse Industry, Sydney Showgrounds, NSW Contact: 03 6231 2999, email [email protected] or visit www.ahga.org.au. Conference to attract up to 450 commercial growers and allied industry delegates from Australian, New Zealand and throughout Asia.

22-24 July fourth quadrennial Australia/ New Zealand Avocado Growers Conference, Cairns Convention Centre, Qld Contact: visit www.avocado.org.au Over 480 industry members attended the last Joint Conference held in 2005 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

3-7 August 2009 National Cherry Conference and 2009 National Apple & Pear Conference, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart. Contact: 03 6231 1944, [email protected] or It is the first time the two conferences have combined with the theme being ‘Innovation in Production…Growing our Future’. Includes technical conference sessions, field day and gala dinner.

Holiday season trading hours Brisbane Produce Market will remain trading at its usual Summer time slots throughout the festive season but will be closed to buyers and the public on public holidays. For further information on fruit deliveries and purchases, please contact your wholesaler or check trading hours on line at www.brisbanemarkets.com.au.