wa grower june 08

Header

SINCE 1948

Sam CalameriWinner of the

Bill Stevens Award

Vol. 41 No 2. JUNE 2008

$19.00 + GSTP.P 602669/00248

Demand - for potatoes grows

vegelinkPlanning for the future

spud cornerThe Global Potato Economy

ANNIVERSARY

LIFT OUT

INSIDE!

FEATURES

This month

industry plan

23 vegelink

4 Arbuckle’s a name synonymous with vegetable growing

10 Balance the biofuel debate

11 Wembley IGA Mushroom Retailer of the Year

13 The Bill Stevens Award - Winner & Finalists

16 Winning back the balance in your life

17 The Jones family of Manjimup

19 A Short Walk

21 Changing for a sustainable future

22 Presidents Message

23 Vegelink

28 The Soil Page

32 Just Being Nice?

34 WA’s Water Future

35 Odeum Produce Pty Ltd Winner of Innovative Marketing Award

37 Yvonne Fahl - Finalist AUSVEG Chairman’s Award

40 Editorial

41 Spud Corner

This month

potato economy

41 spud corner

Local Growers - Arbuckle’s

• Agspread• Bejo Seeds• Brandt Electrical• Carefree Water Conditioners• ChemCert• Clause Pacific• DrumMuster• Fairbanks Seeds• Landmark• Seed Potato Cool Storage

• WA Crates• WA Industry Development Officer• Premiers Water Foundation Project• Environmental Assurance Project• Best Management Practice Project

Cover Photos supplied by Stephen D Barnby

President David Anderson m: 0418 195 759 e: [email protected]

Vice President Maureen Dobra t: 9575 2086 m: 0417 174 110 e: [email protected]

Magazine Editor Figaro Natoli t: 9405 4817 m: 0438 628 517 e: [email protected]

Committee D. Anderson (president) m. 0418 195 759 M. Dobra (vice president) m. 0417 174 110 D. Arbuckle (treasurer) m. 0411 437 299 F. Natoli (editor) m. 0438 628 517 J. Trandos m. 0417 979 461 C. Stevens m. 0412 585 985 S. Calameri m. 0418 957 236 P. Humble m. 0419 917 302 A. Marinovich m. 0419 801 824 J. Neave m. 0418 927 410 H. Shapland t: 9845 1064 T. Dang t: 9923 0218 K. Sue m: 0417 986 467 H. Vander Gugten t: 9419 1836 A. Grubelich t: 9524 1110 A. Bogdanich m: 0419 248 422 M. Le m: 0417 962 427 R. Shain t: 9941 8419 R. Kuzmicich t: 9941 8185

Contact Details for Office vegetablesWA Horticultural House 103 Outram Street West Perth 6005 t: (08) 9481 0834 f: 08) 9481 0024 e: [email protected]

Executive Officer Jim Turley m: 0410 697 842 e: [email protected]

WA Industry Development Officer David Ellement m: 0408 941 318 e: [email protected]

Research Manager Gavin Foord t: 0419 939 209 e: [email protected]

Finance & Advertising Manager Susan Watson m: 0407 471 646 e: [email protected]

vegetablesWA Reporter Linda Manning t: 9434 2628 e: [email protected]

Life Members A.J. Anderson, D.J. Arbuckle, J. Arbuckle Snr*, J.H. Arbuckle* (M.B.E.J.P), S. Calameri, G. Kiriros*, R.G.Leach*, F. Natoli, S. Sawle, R.M. Schultz. C.P.Stevens, W.R. Stevens* (M.B.E.J.P), HR. Ashby*, Amy Harris*, A. Ingrilli. * deceased

vegetablesWA

Articles reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher.

This issue of the WA Grower is brought to you by

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4 WA Grower June 2008

Local Growers

ArbuckleA name synonymous with vegetable growing

The Third generation: The Arbuckle’s today - Roger with wife Diane, Don with wife Audrey, Lyle with wife Margaret, and Trevor with wife Iris (Absent: Graeme - son of Beb Arbuckle)

Linda Manning

Arbuckle: The First and Second Generations in 1930 (back row) Ina, Ilene, Jim (jnr), Maida, Audrey, (middle) Beb (Beresford), Eliza (nee Steer), Ross, James Snr, Bill, (front) Gwen.

Arbuckle family home “Balcatta” at Gwelup in 1920’s

5WA Grower June 2008

Local Growers

1896James Arbuckle (1879-1956) travelled from Melbourne to Perth to look for land to grow vegetables and in August paid a deposit on Lot 40 of the Osborne Park Estate (later renumbered Lot 47). Whilst clearing his block, he earned money by clearing road reserves for the Perth Road Board.

1897

In March 1897, his mother, Elizabeth, and brothers John, Alfred, William and Beresford together with sisters Ida and Elsie arrived in Perth. Shortly after, his father Robert and elder brother, Robert Hamilton arrive. James, Alfred and John worked the Osborne Park property and the family built a house in Albert Street.

1903

Robert Arbuckle, James’ father, died.James married Eliza Steer and produced four sons – Jim (1907-1982), Bill (1914), Beb (1916-1982) and Ross (1920-2005) and five daughters - Ilene (1904), Ina (1905), Maida (1910), Audrey (1912) and Gwen (1918)

1905James and Eliza leased land on the Balcatta Swamp from Wesley Maley. This was the area now facing Bryan Road.

1913 The Balcatta swamp was subdivided.

1918The Arbuckle’s house, called ‘Balcatta’, was completed on the block opposite the swamp in North Beach Road, (now known as Porter Street – the house still stands).

1924-1925James Arbuckle started using butterfly sprinklers to grow out of season crops such as rhubarb, pumpkins and tomatoes on sandy country in Balcatta.

1929The Arbuckle family brought land on Duffy Road Balcatta. Beb Arbuckle farmed Lot 86, and Jim Arbuckle farmed Lot 87 in a partnership known as J.Arbuckle & Sons.

1932Jim married to Jean Ethel and they produced 4 sons – Trevor (1933), Donald (1935). Neil (1936) and Lyle (1941).

1936 The Arbuckles grew the first shipment of cauliflowers to be exported to Singapore by Fred Emery.

1938Beb Arbuckle married Catherine McIntosh Faulkner and produced two sons – Graeme (1939) and Roger.

1939-1945J. Arbuckle & Sons produced carrot seed for planting Australia wide and at the same time developed their own machinery for cleaning the seed.

1940 Youngest daughter, Gwen Arbuckle, married Bill Stevens.

1946 After the war, Fred Emery recommenced exporting Arbuckle cauliflowers to Singapore.

1949Vegetable growers met and agreed to set up the Vegetable Growers Association (VGA). Members of the Arbuckle and Stevens families attended the inaugural meeting and Bill Stevens was voted vice-president and Jim Arbuckle treasurer.

1950 Beb Arbuckle

A short history of the Arbuckle’s contribution to horticulture

1954 James Arbuckle Snr


1982 Jim ArbuckleArbuckle family home “Balcatta” at Gwelup in 1920’s

WA Grower June 2008

Header HeaderHeaderLocal Growers

WA Grower June 2008

1950

The VGA set up the Standard Crate Exchange Ltd as an Australian Public Company limited by shares. Standard Crate designed wooden lettuce and then cauliflower crates. Bill Stevens was to become the first President of the VGA and Jim Arbuckle the Treasurer. Trevor Arbuckle was a Committee Member for 13 years including terms as Vice-President. Beb Arbuckle was a frequent representative of W.A. at VGA Conferences.J.Arbuckle & Sons partnership is dissolved and Jim takes over the name. Beb Arbuckle trades as B.T. Arbuckle & Co. Ross Arbuckle continues growing on original property with Bill Arbuckle on a neighbouring property before relocating to Wanneroo.Both Jim and Beb Arbuckle were involved in the development, and then the production, of the certified runner bean varieties ‘Golden Harvest’ and ‘Westralia’.Beb Arbuckle was very active in the Osborne Park Agricultural Society and served as President (as had James). Beb was also a strong supporter of the Osborne Park St Johns Ambulance.

1956 James Arbuckle dies aged 77 years.

1962Graeme Arbuckle goes to Kununurra to work for the Northern Development to learn how to grow cotton – he was the first farmer on the Ord.

1963

Jim and Jean Arbuckle and their sons, Don and Lyle together with Beb and Catherine Arbuckle take up the first two allocated blocks in Kununurra to grow cotton. At this time Jim and Beb are considered to be two of the biggest and most successful vegetable growers in Western Australia. Don and Audrey Arbuckle and their 10-month old daughter Ruth go to Kununurra to grow cotton with their father, Jim. Lyle and Margaret Arbuckle move to Kununurra.

1966 Trevor Arbuckle and family move to Kununurra after closing down the Balcatta farm.

1969The Arbuckle families return to Perth. Jim retires from vegetable growing, but maintains an active interest in his sons’ properties.

1970Trevor and Don Arbuckle (Jim’s sons) start growing vegetables on their Duffy Road property and start subdividing the property.

1973

Trevor Arbuckle spent 12 months as a United Nations Military Observer on the ceasefire line in Kashmir.Trevor and Don buy land on Conti Road Wanneroo and start growing vegetables for seed from 1970 to 1982. Trevor and Iris move to Carosa Road and grow sweet corn, then move to Carabooda in 1978.

1978Jim Arbuckle is awarded an MBE for services to vegetable growing. Jim had been a Director of Producers Markets Co-operative, Director of Standard Crate Exchange and Chairman of the Metropolitan Market Trust. He was a Foundation Chairman of the Ord River Districts Co-operative and a member of the Consultative Council for the North-West and a Justice of the Peace.

1951 Westralia Runner Beans1951 Standard Crate

Exchange

6

1950 Arbuckle, Wilson, Bloomfield & Harvey

193o’s1951 Leach, Tallianchick,

White, Goddard & Arbuckle


HeaderLocal Growers

1980Beb’s sons, Graeme and Roger, do not return to growing vegetables. After brief time at Pinjarra farming cattle and at York farming wheat and sheep, Graeme moves Moree NSW to grow cotton. He farmed 4000 acres at Bengarang near Garah and Roger farmed cotton at Garah.

1980-1984 Don Arbuckle President of the VGA.

1982Jim Arbuckle MBE dies aged 74 years in Perth.Beb Arbuckle dies aged 66 years at Maroochydore.

1990 Graeme retires to Pomona and grows pine trees and hardwood timber.

1992-1996Don Arbuckle becomes state manager for S&G Seeds and then goes back to growing vegetables and selling seeds.

1996 Roger ceased growing cotton and moved to Noosa to grow macadamias.

2008

Dr Trevor Arbuckle JP DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) aged 74 years is managing partner of Hamersley Traders and a member of the AUF Committee on Supply Chain Initiatives.Don Arbuckle is still selling seeds and Don’s son John is an accountant. Lyle Arbuckle is retired after a career in plastics.Gwen Stevens (nee Arbuckle) lives in Glengarry Perth.Catherine Arbuckle (wife of Beb Arbuckle) age 92 is living in a nursing home in Noosa Queensland.

1953 Cauliflowers for export to Singapore

1960’s Arbuckle Seeds

1960’s Arbuckle Seeds

1988 Don Arbuckle

1953 Cauliflowers for 1952 Westralia IP

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Truck loaded for the markets 1937

export to Singaporeexport to Singapore

Truck loaded for the markets 1937198o’s Arbuckle SeedsAdvertisement

Truck loaded for the markets 1937Truck loaded for the markets 1937198o’s Arbuckle Seeds

Advertisement

1994 Don Arbuckle & Frank Tedesco

1950 Arbuckle, Wilson, Bloomfield & Harvey 1953 Cauliflowers for 1950 Ross Arbuckle


Truck loaded for the markets 1937

Gwen Stevens (nee Arbuckle) and son Robin

WA Grower June 2008

Local Growers

Graeme Arbuckle was one of the third generation of Arbuckles’ involved in growing

vegetables in Western Australia. He was born in 1939, the eldest son of Beb and Catherine (McIntosh Faulkner) Arbuckle. His father, Beresford (Beb) worked the land at Lot 86 on Duffy Rd in Balcatta (now known as Carine) and his uncle Jim farmed next door at Lot 87. They worked together as J Arbuckle and Sons.

Graeme and his brother Roger are part of the Arbuckle dynasty that helped shape the vegetable growing in Western Australia.

Between 1939 and 1945, J. Arbuckle & Sons produced carrot seed for Australia wide use and developed their own machinery for cleaning the seed.

In 1948, several large vegetable growers met and agreed to set up the Vegetable Growers Association (VGA). Bill Stevens was voted vice-president and Jim Arbuckle (Graham’s uncle) became the treasurer.

The VGA set up the Standard Crate Exchange Ltd in the 1950’s as an Australian Public Company limited by shares – the original purpose was to provide lettuce crates and the success of these led to designing of a wooden crate that would held 8 – 10 ‘good sized’ cauliflowers.

Uncle Bill Stevens became President of the VGA and Jim Arbuckle remained as Treasurer. Beb Arbuckle frequently represented WA at VGA Conferences.

“I was bought up to work,” said Graeme. “I worked horses in the market garden in Balcatta and used to lift 186 pound bags of super in the 1950’s when I was still a teenager.

“We were the first to use tractors for inter row cultivation for vegetables.

“Times were often hard. I recall seeing Mum and Dad sitting at the table deciding what they were going to spend their last 5 pound on.

“Dad and Uncle Jim were the first to cultivate spuds. Dad was always out to do something bigger and better. We used to bag the spuds off a potato digger at the back of a tractor.

“Both Uncle Jim and Dad were involved in the development and then the production of the certified runner bean varieties ‘Golden Harvest’ and ‘Westralia’. They were very successful runner bean varieties at the time.

“I remember we made up a bean seed grader from an old washing machine. It was Roger’s and my job to clean the bags of seed before we were allowed to go swimming on the weekends.

“In 1962 and 1962, Uncle Jim and family and our family left Perth to take up two blocks in first allocation in Kununurra to try our hand at growing cotton.

“Our 30-acre Duffy Road property was leased and later sold to Bill and Gwen Stevens and their sons.

When they left to go north, Jim and Beb Arbuckle were regarded as two of the most successful vegetable growers or “row crop farmers” in Western Australia.

“Cotton farming suited us, we did ten years in the Ord and we were up there when I was 21. I still have some old 8 footage of the Ord at that time.

“Later I did 10 years at Moree and Roger did 16 years at Moree growing cotton at Garah. I am now growing

eucalypts near Noosa and Roger is growing macadamias.

“I have had plenty of memorable experiences. I met the astronauts at Muchea and helped to lift the anchor of the City of York sailing ship wreck 200 metres off Rottnest Island.

“A memento of that life is a ‘farmer’s back’. I need plenty of physiotherapy now. Growers work hard when young and suffer later in life. It’s proof that ‘we have done our share’.

In 1978, my Uncle Jim (James Henry) Arbuckle was awarded an MBE for services to vegetable growing. Jim had been a Director of the Producers Markets Co-operative, Director of Standard Crate Exchange and Chairman of the Metropolitan Market Trust. He also served as the Foundation Chairman of the Ord River Districts Co-operative.

“In 1982, my Dad and Uncle Jim died in the same year. They were always very close. Jim went first and Dad only five months after.

Graeme Arbuckle maintains his interests in timber and Roger in macadamias. Mrs Catherine Arbuckle (92 years old) is living in a nursing home in Noosa Queensland.

Graeme and his brother Roger are part of the Arbuckle dynasty that helped shape the vegetable growing industry in Western Australia.

An interview with Graeme ArbuckleLinda Manning

Graeme Arbuckle

8

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Main headerLead in text

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Linda Manning

HeaderBiofuels

Fairbanks Seeds ‐ We’ve got the West covered.

Disclaimer: All cultural and descriptive information is given as a general guide only. Substantial variations may occur due to many environmental factors, including climate, soil type, location, management and cultural practices. No liability will be accepted by Fairbank’s Selected Seed Co. Pty. Ltd. (ABN 86 007 138 276), or its representatives as to the accuracy of the information. All information is given in good faith . Fairbanks Seeds Ph 03 9689 4500 Fax 03 9689 8106

West Australian Agent: Mr. Don Arbuckle ‐ Mobile: 0411 437 299

Brittany – 12/13 week cauliflower, well covered curd, with excellent adaptability. Dual purpose, cuts well late autumn and again mid spring

Prophet – Uniform broccoli with thick stems, medium beads and heavy head weight. Cuts well from late autumn through winter into spring. Not recommended for cutting later in spring, as it performs best under cooler conditions.

Origin – New release, a top performer in trials. Relatively slow bolting with IR to some Club Root strains.

Miyako – Green stem Pak Choi which has dominated the market, especially where Club Root is a problem. IR to Club Root.

Celtic ‐ A revelation in the baby leaf market. Mid green oakleaf with very upright habit. Excellent tolerance to mildew pressure.

Balance the biofuel debateThe growing global food crisis has re-ignited the “food-versus-fuel- debate on ethanol.

It’s a debate that’s been brewing in recent years as large-scale ethanol industries have sprouted

in countries such as the US, Brazil and China.

Backed by generous government incentives, the main driver has been to help shift away from the traditional reliance on fossil fuels.

But by using grain or sugar as inputs, these industries have also diverted inputs - and the land they’re grown on - away from food production.

In the US, for example, about half the country’s corn crop now goes into ethanol and biofuel production.

Over the past decade, US wheat and soybean growers have flocked to producing corn for fuel.

Until recently, the main “red flag” has been waved by livestock industries,

which see government backed ethanol as an unfair competitor for feed grain.

But now, with human food supplies under serious pressure, the argument has shifted to a higher plane.

World leaders such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown are joining the chorus of doubt, urging a rethink of ethanol and biofuel policies.

In Australia, the concerns of the intensive livestock industries - to date, almost a lone voice in opposing government support for ethanol - have now been joined by prominent farm leaders, including NFF boss David Crombie.

It is time for ethanol policies around the world, especially in the US, to be reviewed. The new generation of non-food plant inputs seems to offer a productive way forward.

But there must not be an over-reaction.

The rapid push into biofuels is not the only cause of the current food crisis.

It is also being driven by booming demand for food in fast-growing Asian countries and a series of poor harvests in grain-producing countries, including Australia.

A return to good seasons will help, as will a renewed push to lift agricultural productivity.

It’s also likely that food shortages and rising prices will themselves encourage farmers to grow more food to cash-in on the higher returns.

We cannot ignore the plight of millions of people on the edge of starvation. But we must make sure the policy response is appropriate.

Weekly Times 30 April 2008


HeaderMushroom Retailer of the Year

Sam Belladonna, owner and manager of Wembley Super IGA,

accepted the Mushroom Retailer of the Year for 2008.

The Australian Mushroom Growers provide the annual

award to acknowledge and reward the best mushroom retailer in Western Australia.

Sam was delighted to win and have the presentation in his store in front of his customers.

The award was presented in-store for the first time. Mascot Mighty Mushroom was there to alert shoppers that an event was taking place in the fresh produce section. Geraldine presented shoppers with tasty slices of mushroom cooked in soy and ginger and Alessia gave shoppers bright pink shopping bags.

Sam started retailing in 1976 when his father Guiseppe Belladonna bought the Foodland Store in Lesmurdie. Prior to that, they were vegetable growers. The Belladonna’s sold the Lesmurdie store in 1984 and opened a new SupaValu in Beechboro in the same year, which they sold in 1988. In November 1988, they bought the Wembley BiLo, which became a Dewsons in 1996 and a Super IGA in 2005.

Wembley IGA is a top store to buy fresh produce and had a first class mushroom presentation featuring many different sizes and types of mushrooms.

Fresh Finesse is the face of fresh food promotion in Western Australia.

Wembley Super IGA wins Mushroom Retailer of the Year 2008 Best mushroom retailer in Western Australia Linda Manning

Sam Belladonna and Mighty Mushroom Alessia Spedding & Noelene Swain from Fresh Finesse

Mushroom tasting with Geraldine

Greg Seymour, Sam Belladonna and Tim Jagot

WA cratesThe professional packaging service

for WA’s finest fresh fruit and vegetables

Phone: (08) 9456 4092 - Fax: (08) 9256 1730 email: [email protected]

wa crates 111x306.indd 1 23/11/2007 9:35:02 AM


HeaderBill Stevens Award of Excellence Winner

The Bill Stevens Award of Excellence Linda Manning

Immediate past President, Sam Calameri was delighted when told that he was a finalist for the

Bill Stevens Award of Excellence for Production. Sam is one of the owners of the Baldivis Market Garden on Eighty Road Baldivis.

Baldivis Market Garden is one of the neatest vegetable operations spread over approximately 100 acres on Eighty Road between Sixty Eight Road and Stakehill Road.

The Calameri Blogna family purchased their first block on Eighty Road in the early 1970’s. By 1974, Sam was working full time growing vegetables and clearing land.

At present, Sam runs a highly mechanized operation growing only carrots and potatoes in rotation. Until 2002 cauliflowers were part of the rotation and before that, there were crops of onions.

Sam has been quick to respond to new ideas. He was one of the first growers to trial compost. Bob Paulin for the Department of Agriculture carried out some of the original compost trials on his property in the late 1990’s and Custom Composts trialled compost on one area over six years. In the end, Sam utilized compost as part of his growing system.

Sam is well known for his generosity and cooperation with industry and the Department of Agriculture and Food to assist in any scheme to benefit the vegetable industry.

Sam was president of the Vegetable Growers Association from 2000 to 2004 and prior to that vice-president from 1992 to 2000. During his years as president, he was instrumental in bringing in the new structure of vegetablesWA and increasing the communication between the different organizations within the industry.

He used the WA Grower magazine as a vehicle to unite growers under the VGA banner and employed a reporter to profile local growers and record events of interest to growers.

He was Chairman of the Metropolitan zone of the Potato Growers Association from 1997 to 2003 and a Grower Board Director of the Potato Marketing Corporation from 2003 to 2006. He is currently into his third term as Chairman of the APC Potato Producers Committee.

He was president during the Carrot Conference at the Burswood Casino in 2001. continued...

Sam Calameri- BSA Winner


HeaderBill Stevens Award of Excellence Finalist

The Baldivis Market Garden has recently formed an alliance with Yoshi Okuma to grow Japanese tomatoes in greenhouses on Baldivis Market Garden land.

“Sam has worked closely with vegetablesWA and the Department of Agriculture and Food on a range of sustainable production projects. He is always supportive of the programmes we are running and quick to offer

his property for demonstration work and his advice to keep the research focused,” said Gavin Foord research officer at vegetablesWA. Gavin nominated Sam for the Bill Stevens Award.

“Sam is open to change to improve his production, reduce his environmental footprint and promote the vegetablesWA approach to sustainable management.”

“I was looking at the award holistically, I am looking at Sam as a very active grower within vegetablesWA and not just from a production perspective. He is a fantastic ambassador for the vegetable industry and just a good guy to work with.”

Maureen Dobra is one of the executive directors of the family owned Loose Leaf

Lettuce Company.

She is Vice President of vegetablesWA and a member of the Western Australian Vegetable Networking Committee and the AusVeg National Research and Development Committee. She is also on the APC Vegetable Producer’s Committee.

Maureen is a Chairperson of the Gingin Telecentre.

Maureen has the ability to get things done both in the family business and in the local community.

Since 1996, the Loose Leaf Lettuce Company has grown from strength to strength. It was the right product at the right time – pre packaged salad mixes were new to the market when Maureen and Barry Dobra’s daughters decided to form the Loose Leaf lettuce Company.

It was not long before demand overtook supply and Maureen, Barry and their son Kevan (in partnership) scaled up production on their property on Ashby Road Gingin. They have continued to invest in new machinery to plant, harvest, wash and pack the small flavoured edible leaves. Their latest investment is in an Alltech Hydro-Vac ®cooling system.

The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company were amongst the first to grow and market the small edible leaves as a salad mix in Western Australia. They continually trial new varieties to extend their range of products.

Industry Development Officer David Ellement states that, “Maureen has adopted a unique approach to supply chain marketing. The product is high quality and they use a lot of technology.

Maureen Dobra - BSA Finalist


Header

BSA finalist for Excellence in Production (growing)

Paul and Alice Humble have been growing continental cucumbers at St Albans Road Baldivis since 1989. They have 9000 square metres of greenhouse space. Their property presents well.

They grow three crops of per year per greenhouse. The plants grow well and picking starts six weeks after seeding in summer. The greenhouses are very neat and tidy and free of weeds.

They market their cucumbers through Central Fruit Sales.

Paul is on the APC Vegetable Producer’s Committee and the executive committee of vegetablesWA. He is a foundation member of the Greenhouse Growers’ Group.

“There are lots of other people far more worthy than myself to be chosen as a finalist for the Bill Stevens Award of Excellence”, said Paul. “As much as I feel that it is nice to be nominated, I think that my contribution has been alongside other people who could equally be awarded or nominated for what they have done.”

“He is a leader in the greenhouse industry”, said nominator David Ellement Vegetable IDO. “Paul not only grows high quality cucumbers for the market, but he is a good operator, and shares his knowledge with other growers to improve overall greenhouse production.”

Bill Stevens Award of Excellence Finalist

Paul Humble - BSA Finalist

The BSA is in honour of the late

W.R. (Bill) Stevens M.B.E., JP.

“A lot of growers grow good product, but Maureen does other things well. She is focused on the people side of the business. She is very conscious of the needs and abilities of her staff and is genuinely interested in their welfare.”

The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company holds an annual or bi-annual day of games where their staff, their suppliers and people on the distribution chain enjoy a day of outdoor activities. They call it the ‘Loose Leaf Lympics’.

The business was a Western Australian finalist in the 2008 Family Businesses of the Year awards.

Maureen won the 2005 RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year award.


HeaderEnvironmental Management Header

As a business owner, you have customers to serve, employees to manage,

deadlines to meet, suppliers to pay and accountants to satisfy. Family and friends want to see you sometimes, and that exercise bike you bought could do with a workout. Sound familiar?

Work-life balance has become a popular phrase, as more and more people decide that there must be a better way to live and work. Achieving balance takes some soul searching, commitment, and motivation to make changes. In the same way that you set goals and targets for your business, establishing personal work-life balance goals is a good first step.

Answering some or all of the following questions will help you set your direction.

How do you want to create • balance in your life?

What needs to change and how • will you achieve this?

What will be happening in your • life when you have achieved your goals.

Now write down your action • plan (with time lines) to start the change process.

Some tried and tested ideas include:

1. Learn to manage your time.This is not easy for someone running a busy small business. However,

there are things you can do to better manage your day/night. Review how you actually spend your time now. Use this to make changes, set priorities and stick to them.

2. Be realisticWrite a to-do-list with priorities and time lines. Don’t sweat the small stuff - let the unimportant tasks wait. Don’t stress about things you can’t control.

3. Seek helpBoth at home and at work, even though we may feel that we are the only person who can get the job done to the highest standard - this is not true. Where possible, share or delegate your responsibilities. Learn to tell people what you need. Communicate at home and at work. Skill others to undertake some of your tasks. Encourage family members to become more responsible for chores and caring for the family.

4. Create time for you - take care of your health and wellbeingTaking a short break or a fun day can re-energise you for work and family. It can increase productivity too. Make time for things you enjoy - write then in your diary. Make sure this time is respected by yourself and others. Learn to manage other people’s expectations of you. Say no sometimes! Schedule sport, exercise and fun. Have regular medical check-ups.

Take mental health days - a great boost to your energy and focus. Take regular holidays that are free from work interruptions. As a small or medium business owner, much of the success of your business rides on your shoulders. You need to be fit and feeling balanced to succeed at home and work. This aspect deserves your attention now.

Finding the balance

Winning back the balance in your lifeWe live our lives at a fast pace, and more of us are under pressure to ‘deliver the goods’.

Dec 2007, Barbara Holmes, Work Life Balance International

Local growers


G reg and Mike returned and supplied the Coles stores in the South West with

cauliflowers, cabbage and broccoli.

About eighteen months ago, all produce destined for Coles had to be consigned to the Costa’s distribution centre in Jandakot.

“We believe in continuous supply and service is everything”, said Greg Jones. “We cut in the morning and take it to our customers.

“We plant every week. At first, we used to grow the old varieties like Marathon and we would sometimes lose the crop through rot. Now with the new varieties, it is not so hard.

“We do a lot of things on our farm that are pretty old fashioned. We care for the land we are on because that is our lifeline. We are not here to reap as much as we can and move on. My family has been on this land nearly eighty years,” said Greg.

The Jones family do not employ outside labour. Greg and his father, George, grow 55 acres of vegetables a year. They only plant what they can harvest by themselves.

They use semi permanent irrigation and water is from a dam on the Jones’ property.

Greg is concerned that they will be charged for the water from their own dam.

“I don’t have a problem paying, but when other industries such as blue

gums are not paying anything, we are not on an equal playing field.”

“It costs us 40 cents a cauliflower to get it to Perth and sell it, so we shouldn’t be able to compete with Perth growers in the winter. The reason we can is because we don’t employ labour. We start at daylight every day and in winter we takes four days to get over our crop. In summer, we have one day due to the temperature.

“If I get bigger, I will have to get bigger in a big way. At the moment, I can handle what I do on my own.

“I would like to see our levy money going into a fighting fund, so that when a farmer has a problem, there is some money to help him out. A lot of money was poured into research into export cauliflowers that we don’t do any more.

“We need a more united farmers’ group, like a union, so that we can dictate more of our terms and pass on our costs rather than just take what we are given.

“For example, farmers need to join together and agree that no cauli should leave any farm for less than $1.50.”

Jones family history

Greg’s father George told me about the family history.

“My parents, Hugh and Harriet Jones, came out from England in 1921 when Dad was 21. He came from Liverpool and Mum came from Wales,” said George.

“They came out to join the Group Settlement Scheme in Bridgetown. When that failed, they came to Manjimup in 1929 and settled here

The Jones family of Manjimup Brassica growersWhen brothers Greg and Mike Jones returned to the family farm in 1997 to grow cauliflowers, most farmers’ sons were heading to Perth and Bunbury to find work.

Linda Manning

Jones family (back) Greg, Faith and George Jones, (front) Brayden, Sam and Georgina.


HeaderLocal growers

because this was the last piece of land that was available. Nobody wanted this land because it had more karris on it than all the other blocks.

“You couldn’t make a living off it.

“It has always been good land to grow vegetables. Dad supplied the ‘campies’ with vegetables in the 1930’s.” The ‘Campies’ were people who lived in a camp over in the bush and built the towns and roads.

“It was tough for everybody – not just us. That is why, when the depression came, they all just left. All the houses were deserted. There used to be two shops and a hall in this valley and it has all gone now.

“During the depression, we milked a few cows and drove them into Manjimup to sell, but couldn’t get much for them so we left them there.

“We are the only originals left in Group Settlement No 23, known as YINDUP and also as YANMAH.

“Dad started growing tobacco in the early 1940’s for five years to 1947. When the tobacco was at its height there were 12,000 people in Manjimup, now there are 4,000.

“After that he started growing potatoes and we made a few bob out of rabbits. Like all growers, we had to dig the potatoes by hand with a fork.

“In 1956 we had 28 acres of apples planted. We supplied the cannery for many years until it closed and the government paid us to pull out the apple trees out in about 1986. Dad died in 1968.

“I married Faith Turner in 1967. I feel I am lucky because I have a good wife. She helped on the farm and it makes it a big difference when you have a wife who will help you”, said George.

The Turners were market gardeners in England and pioneers in the district. Faith has ‘green fingers’ and has cultivated beautiful home garden at ‘Greenfields’. She still grows her father’s variety of raspberries and makes a fine raspberry vinaigrette.

“When I married George, in 1967, he had 30 acres that were mostly apples. After we pulled the apples out in 1986, George had a really bad accident so we went to live in Bunbury for seven years because George needed hospital treatment and the kids could attend school and university,” said Faith.

“Then we came back to the farm and picked up the pieces, both our boys came with us and this was at a time when the young kids were walking off the farms.

“Greg and Mike started growing broccoli and sending it to the markets in Perth. After a while, they started

sending it to the farmers market at Busselton. A buyer for Coles noticed the quality asked them if they would grow cauliflowers, broccoli and cabbage for the Coles stores in the lower South West and supply direct. They did fantastically well out of that.”

Between leaving school and growing vegetables, Greg had a career as an AFL footballer. He played for Swan Districts then St Kilda. When he returned to Western Australia, he played for West Perth and that is when met his future wife, Kelly Burton from Perth.

Greg and his father George are growing cauliflowers and broccoli on the farm on Jones Road, west of Manjimup. Brother Michael has a career as a teacher in Perth. Faith and George run a farm stay ‘Greenfields’ in the family home.

The farm is located on Jones Road west of Manjimup in hilly country surrounded by karris. October is the best time of the year to view the Greenfields garden and the cold climate plants. Faith picks her raspberries in December.

George says, “I am only 72 and I am never going to retire. I would as soon live here as anywhere. We will only leave here when we have to be near a hospital or something like that”.

Three generations of Jones men, Greg, Brayden, and George Jones. Field of Cauliflowers

19

Header

This month marks the end of the vegetablesWA project ‘Walking the walk

on environmental management’, funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. ‘A Short Walk’ not only refers to our time frame, it also reflects the pathway between food safety and quality assurance and the time needed to work towards environmental assurance.

Opportunity or threat?

Ten years ago we all felt a little threatened by the food safety and quality assurance process and while none of us like the extra paperwork, we have accepted it as part of modern business. Start talking about environmental assurance and most growers will roll their eyes and give that ‘here we go again’ look. That is until they realise the opportunity:

most of the record keeping is •already done

any changes can be linked to •productivity (better yield and quality)

the process can help with a range •of planning and management issues

Walking the walk on environmental management began with a realisation that our Good Practice approach to environmental management was not formally recognised. There was limited ‘on farm’ implementation of recognised environmental assurance systems and local market forces were not demanding that growers implement environmental assurance

as a condition to supplying produce. Our international and quality assurance experience told us that this was destined to change.

Choosing a pathwayFreshcare is the preferred food safety and quality assurance system for many of Western Australia’s vegetable growers. So for growers with Freshcare, Freshcare Environmental was the obvious choice. The Freshcare Environmental Code is supported by AUSVEG and the national Enviroveg program and provided growers with a clear pathway to environmental assurance.

For those growers with SQF, the choice became more complicated as the SQF Responsible Environmental Practice was only made available to us in May this year.

Our approach to this issue was to encourage all participating growers to use the Freshcare Environmental Code. This was readily available and able to be used in conjunction with other systems, while being affordable and achievable using good practice. We also believed that the code was robust and had all the components that would be required to satisfy codes being developed to link with other systems.

Most of the record keeping is already done

The Freshcare internal audit clearly showed that most of the record keeping was already done. Most records in relation to staff training, systems improvement, chemical and fertiliser use were in place. Things that were not already being recorded could generally be incorporated into current records with-out too much drama. An example of this is the requirement under C2.7 of the code for a farm chemical inventory or equivalent system. Many growers did not have a farm chemical inventory, but they all kept

A Short Walk – Walking the walk on environmental management

This month marks the end of the project ‘Walking the Walk on environmental management’

Environmental Management

By Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA and Susie Murphy White, Department of Agriculture and Food

19

pathway to environmental assurance.

For those growers with SQF, the

This was readily available

affordable and achievable using good practice. We also believed that the code was robust and had all the components that would be required to satisfy codes being developed to link with other

but they all kept

Engaging Western Australian

Vegetable and Potato Growers

in the industry’s Environmental

Assurance process.

Demonstrating that

Environmental

Assurance is

affordable and

achievable using

Good Practice

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Environmental Management

invoices to indicate supply details and could easily incorporate expiry and manufacturing dates, on the records they already maintain.

Changes can be linked to productivityOne of the key challenges in this project was to ensure that any changes required under an environmental code could be linked to productivity. Examples of these that are most easily demonstrated relate to irrigation:

E2.4 Irrigation requirements shall be assessed using crop, soil/substrate, weather monitoring methods or a combination thereof.

This is simply Good Practice as promoted and delivered to growers through vegetablesWA, the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) the Swan Catchment Council (SCC) and other state and national initiatives. Growers are encouraged to use crop factors, local evaporation data and soil moisture monitoring to make better use of the water resources, minimise the impact on the environment and improve crop performance. The following chart was developed as part of this project, using the environmental management ‘cycle of continual improvement’ to link elements of irrigation scheduling.

Helping with planning and managementThe biggest task in developing an environmental management system is in the documentation at the front end. Much of which simply amounts to good management planning and can be covered by good property maps and action plans.

Property maps, provided by this project, using aerial photography with 2 metre contours, have proved to be invaluable in this process. In the first instance they can be used for identifying water courses or areas susceptible to soil erosion and water-logging. They also provide a ‘to scale’ outline of items such as roads, dams bores, watercourses and remnant vegetation which need to be identified on a whole of property level.

Land degradation hazard maps identifying the environmental risks associated with the property were also provided. These maps give an overview of what environmental impacts need to be addressed. In all cases growers participating in the project have been addressing soil and land degradation impacts through routine farming practices. It was just a matter of reviewing and recording these to develop environmental action plans.

Meeting objectives

Communicating the benefits has involved the use of a number of strategies including; regular reporting in the WA Grower and on the vegetablesWA website, as well as presentations and displays at regional forums around the state, at Kununurra, Carnarvon, Gingin, Binningup and Manjimup.

By the end of the project, growers providing more than 15% of Western Australia’s vegetable production were engaged in the industries Environmental Assurance process. This far exceeded our initial target of 10% and puts the WA vegetable industry in a strong position for the future.

Freshcare Environmental workshop participants at Canning Vale, November 2007. (Back row; Susie Murphy White , Ian Kininmonth, Graham McAlpine, Clare Hamilton-Bate, Ron

Fry, Paul Bogdanich, Sandy Pate, Jenny Mercer. Front: Joe Eckman and Gavin Foord)


Header

Changing for a Sustainable Future“…any practice that helps us grow a good crop with minimal impact on the environment is a good practice…”

In the lead-up to Christmas I went to the usual end of year functions, catching up with old friends

and making new ones. One of the inevitable questions was “So what are you working on at the moment?” My reply to that question varied, but the common theme was about helping vegetable growers change practices for a sustainable future. Often the response to this was “Surely they have the information they need, why don’t they just do it?” My usual answer was to go into the spiel about the process of continual improvement, presenting information to address learning styles and linking Good Practice with productivity…

But it made me think.

I believe in what we are doing. I believe our catch phrase that “…any practice that helps us grow a good crop with minimal impact on the environment is a good practice…” I can show that we can make changes for a sustainable future. We know we can make more efficient use of our water and fertiliser. So why are we investing so much in this change process? Why aren’t vegetable growers just doing it?

I then thought about the wider community and tried to draw some parallels. We’re told we can save electricity in the home by turning off lights when we leave the room and turning off appliances at the wall. We’re shown that we can save fuel by driving more efficient cars, walking to the shops, taking public transport. We know we can reduce waste by recycling and buying products with less packaging. All of those things require us to make changes for a sustainable future. The community

invests a lot of time and money in this change process. Why aren’t we just doing it?

There is no short answer. We are changing our behaviour. We are turning off lights, we are buying more fuel efficient cars, and vegetable growers are becoming more efficient at using resources.

However we are not changing enough. We still drive to work. Alone. In 4x4’s. We leave the front light on when we go out at night. We turn off the TV with the remote and Christmas was an interesting time to assess our waste management.

We don’t want to damage our environment, but few of us can say we are consistent in changing our behaviour in terms of energy use and waste management around the home. Why?

The following is from the abstract of Motivating Sustainable Consumption - a review of evidence on consumer behaviour and behavioural change is by Professor Tim Jackson in a report to the Sustainable Development Research Network, January 2005:

“…Changing behaviours – and in particular motivating more sustainable behaviours – is far from straightforward. Individual behaviours are deeply embedded in social and institutional contexts. We are guided as much by what others around us say and do, and by the ‘rules of the game’ as we are by personal choice. We often find ourselves ‘locked in’ to unsustainable behaviours in spite of our own best intentions…”

We acknowledge that behavioural change is complicated. We continue

to invest in strategies to change community behaviour, just as we should continue to invest in strategies to change grower behaviour.

Because of its very nature and importance, environmental education cannot be confined to any one group in our society. It is a responsibility for everyone - government, industry, the media, educational institutions, community groups - as well as individuals (Environment Australia, July 2000).

Largely because of soil and climatic conditions, vegetable growers on the Swan Coastal Plains face a range of challenges to their sustainability. The limited water and nutrient holding capacity of our soils makes management critical. New techniques can reduce the risk of environmental harm, but change often comes with a cost. While walking to the shops will save fuel and reduce carbon emissions, it takes extra time, a cost many of us are reluctant to pay. Simply having the information to change is not enough. We need to keep reminding each other to do it.

If we are serious about changing for a sustainable future, we all need to take responsibility for change. That responsibility extends beyond our home and into the community. If we don’t invest the time and money now, behaviour change will not begin now. And you don’t have to be Al Gore to know what that could mean.

“…It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary…” (Winston Churchill.)

Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA

Sustainable Future


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A Note from the President

Avery big thank you to everybody who made our 60th celebration the success

it was. Not many profit and not for profit organisations stand this test of time. I would especially like to thank our CEO Jim Turley and all the staff at vegetablesWA for their tireless effort and dedication. Also thanks to the subcommittee of volunteers who co-ordinated the pictorial and all of the events of the night. Well done one and all. It is good for all of us to take a moment in time. Looking back on our great industry, haven’t we come along way!

To all the sponsors’ whose generosity helped to make the night the success it was, our heartfelt thanks. From our platinum sponsorship through to table sponsors’ the night was congratulating the people who feed the nation. The national awards, Bill Stevens award of Excellence and the 60th celebrations where a show case of how our industry works with all.

Out in grower land, food security is becoming an increasing issue. Not only food safety and environmental assurance programs for producers, but areas that are suitable for food production. There are a number of planning issues that Federal, State and Local governments need to consider for long term production. The industry needs to be involved in the debate about horticulture precincts. Water security for these parcels of land needs to be included in the equation. The community has an expectation that we will always have fresh vegetables to eat.

Shortages of some lines of vegetables are starting to be reported more often. The industry can no longer afford to have “unsaleable” or $1 per box transactions. Large sharp price rises in all our farm inputs are taking their toll on growers. Forward planning by central market agents, processors and retail chains are going to have to move to a 2-5year cycle. Long

term alliances between parties are going to have to converted to long term contracts. The changing times are going to have to make each of the partners in the supply chain more accountable to each other. Payment terms for growers that have traditionally drifted out will need to be reigned in if we are all going to survive. Everyone can make life a little easier, so play your part.

Now the Strategic Plan has been finalised, I encourage all of you to have a look at the website (www.vegetableswa.com.au) and see if it covers off on all the issues we need to be doing as an industry organisation. If you are unable to access the web or if you would like a hard copy, please contact the office and we can arrange to send one out. The plan will help with the investment for agencies like DAFWA, Premiers water foundation and Federal funding. The plan will be revisited periodically and updated to keep it relevant to what is happening.

Thanks to all for making the 60th Anniversary of, as it was known, The Western Australian Vegetable Growers Association (Inc) and vegetablesWA the success that it is.

David AndersonPresident

Presidents Message

60th Celebration Pictorial

Header

PlanningFutureFOR THE

To assist growers, industryand government in thedevelopment of aprofitable, sustainable,viable vegetable industry.

There are four steps to the plan to ensure we are workingtowards a common purpose.

These include:> Vision > Goals

> Strategies > Actions

WA Vegetable and Potato Industry Strategic Plan – 2008 and beyond

The WA Vegetable Industry has undertaken the development of an industry strategic plan. The plan will provide a number of outcomes including:

> direction for vegetablesWA, > assist with funding proposals,

> strengthen relationships with the research community and> provide focus on issues and opportunities.

StrategicPlan7.0.qrk:Layout 1 16/6/08 12:40 PM Page 1


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VISION:Purpose

GOALSGOALSGOALSGOALSGOALS


1. ConsumersFacilitating betterinteraction betweenconsumers andindustry

2. Markets

Maintaining andbuilding domestic andinternational marketsEnsuring profitable,competitive andsustainablebusinesses

3. Competitiveness

Maintaining andbuilding domestic andinternational markets

4. Information

Ensuring profitable,competitive andsustainablebusinesses

5. Leadership

Delivering informationfor better businessdecisionsBuilding industrycapability throughleadershipdevelopment andtraining.

1.1Commissioning domesticand global consumerresearch

2.1Developing andcommercialising productsand processes

3.1Supporting sustainableproduction practices anddeveloping assuranceprograms meetingindustry and marketneeds

4.1Collecting anddisseminating betterindustry productionstatistics

5.1Enhancing professionalmanagement of theindustry association

1.2 Educating and promotingour products andindustry programs toconsumers

2.2 Identifying anddeveloping new marketopportunities

3.2 Reducing supply chaincosts through adoptionof new technologies andlabour efficient practices

4.2 Improving industrycommunication channelsand processes such asmagazine and website

5.2 Leadership programs forindustry committeedelegates and growers

1.3 Partnering with state andnational health initiativesto increase vegetableconsumption

2.3 Increasing productdifferentiation

3.3 Facilitating an affordablesupply of land and waterfor production into thefuture

4.3Improving informationsupply and presentationto policy makers and themedia

5.3Identifying industry skillsneeds

1.4Promoting the healthbenefits of eatingvegetables to consumers

2.4Commissioning domesticand global marketresearch andbenchmarking

3.4Implementing on-farmbiosecurity andManaging biosecuritythreats

4.4Developing publicrelations plans forindustry initiatives andcrisis situations

5.4Partnering withmarketers andtransporters in producttraining programs forsupply chain staff

2.5Initiating and supportingmarket access programsand export initiatives

3.5 Raising the profile of theindustry to ensureongoing investment invegetable businesses

4.5 Improved two waydialogue betweenvegetablesWA and it’sgrower members

5.5 Developing recognisedmanagement andtechnical trainingprograms for growers

2.7 Educating marketerswholesale and retailabout our products andindustry programs

3.7 Building industrycapacity to deal withclimate change

5.7 Develop and maintainindustry strategic andoperational plans

2.6 Supporting transparencyof market transactions

3.6 Ensuring better qualityproducts through bestpractice product handlingthroughout the supplychain

4.6 Strengtheningrelationships withDAFWA, as well asprivate and public sectorservice providers

5.6 Industry leadership inpolicy development


Goals AND Strategies


Thank you to the many people that took the time tohave input into the plan. It provides the industrywith much needed direction and allows us toachieve outcomes that are supported by industry.

These information sources include:> Regional and crop training needs analysis, > Industry R&D priorities, > DAFWA Situation Analysis 2007/08,> National vegetable industry stocktake, > Vegevision 2020, > Regional grower meetings, > Supply chain workshops,> Carrot and Cauliflower strategic plans, > WAVGA constitution (vegetablesWA), > WA Potato Growers Association plans and meetings, > Department of Agriculture and Food WA research, > WA research community and> Other R&D initiatives.

If you would like any more informationplease visit vegetablesWA websitewww.vegetableswa.com.au, or contactvegetablesWA on 08 9481 0834.

Yours sincerely

David Ellement


The industry may be classifiedinto four groups by size andcomplexity of operation:> Large farms that are highly

mechanised; typical crop,carrots.

> Medium (to Large) sizedfarms that are semi-mechanised; typical cropsinclude lettuce, brassicasand celery.

> Small highly labourintensive farms withmoderate levels ofmechanisation; typicalcrops include bunchingvegetables, leafy salads,rhubarb, and spring onions.

> Protected croppingintensive farms includinggreenhouses or shelters;typical crops includecucumbers and capsicum.

Vegetable Production is conducted throughout the statewhere good quality irrigation water is abundant.Vegetable properties range from size from 1 to 600hectares with businesses most often specialising invegetable production. However, in some areas(particularly the South West) vegetables are growthwith a mixture of agricultural practices.

The proximity of these farms to the city and regional centresincrease down the list as does the intensity of labour use.


KEEPING IN TOUCH

western austral ia

Welcome to the 34th issue of WA VegeLink. It has been a busy time in the vegetable industry; the vegetablesWA 60th Anniversary dinner was held with 580 guests, the WA Industry Strategic Plan has been completed, regional training needs meetings were held, IPM workshop, retail bus tour and the web based irrigation system is nearing completion.

This edition of WA VegeLINK is dedicated to the WA Vegetable and Potato Industry Strategic Plan. The plan will assist in focusing the industry development activities. The plan is in the middle four pages of the WA Grower and you can use this as your guide on where the vegetable industry is placing its resources to assist you.

If you would like to obtain more information visit the vegetablesWA website or contact myself on 9481 0834 or 0408 941 318.

David Ellement

ISSUE 34 | JUNE 2008

Vegetable

Your nationalvegetablelevy at workvegetablelevy at workvegetable

R&D

New information on nutrition management is now on the vegetablesWA website. This information can be used with vegetablesWA Good Practice Guide.

For more information visit the vegetablesWA website or contact David Ellement or Gavin Foord on 9481 0834

Nutrition information

Check out the vegetablesWA website (www.vegetableswa.com.au) for a demo of the new web based irrigation system. The system allows you to enter your crop and farm system details and the computer uses that information and weather data to calculate your irrigation requirements.

For more information visit the vegetablesWA website or contact David Ellement on 9481 0834

Web based irrigation system

Vegetable growers in Carnarvon held a meeting organised by Rochelle Shain, Carnarvon Growers Association and Amanda Annells, DAFWA. The meeting covered a range of issues including:

•EnvironmentalAssurance,•TrainingNeeds,•IndustryDevelopment,•Biosecurity,•DAFWAresearchprojects,and•ResearchandDevelopmentPriorities

There were a number of speakers including, Susie Murphy White, Colin Holt, Amanda Annells and David Ellement. The growers had lots of interaction with the speakers gathering information across a range of topics.

Carnarvon Growers Meeting

WA Grower June 2008

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The Soil Page no.5

Soil management workshops 2nd Round 19-20 May 2008

Want to fine tune your irrigationperformance?Rohan Prince and Peter OÕ MalleyDepartment of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

In the past few issuesof WA Grower we

have presented

guides for testing and

improving sprinklerirrigation and

scheduling. While

several growers have come forward andput their irrigation systems and

management to the test, we would like

more growers involved.

If you are a vegetable grower on theSwan Coastal Plain and consider

yourself a good irrigator, you will be

following the following goodmanagement practices and will:

• Regard irrigation management as a

key component within the vegetablefarming system

• Understand the water holding

characteristics of the soils on your

property

• Have an appropriately designed and

maintained irrigation system which

accounts for wind in the irrigationdesign and you will have planted

wind breaks where practicable

• Check the pressure, uniformity andoutput of your system and make the

necessary modifications before each

summer

• Schedule irrigation using estimatesof pan evaporation and pan

replacement factors (crop factors)

• Monitor and fine tune irrigation usingsoil moisture monitoring devices

• Regularly check the system for leaks

and sprinkler blockages

• Ensure farm staff are trained inirrigation management, such as

Water Wise on the Farm training,

and are supplied with the up to date

technical information

Interested to see if your management is

on the money? Is there scope to makebetter use of your water and fertiliser,

and improve crop reliability?

Growers are invited to contact Rohan

Prince at the Department of Agricultureand Food (phone 0429 680 069 or email

[email protected]) who will work

with you to assess your irrigation systemand discuss your irrigation and fertiliser

practices. On some farms a more

comprehensive assessment is possibleand Rohan and team can install soil

moisture sensors and drainage

lysimeters to record soil moisture and

measure drainage beneath your crop.Growers will receive a confidential

report after harvest of the crop. And its

free.

RohanÕ s project Ô Improving water and

nutrient use efficiency in vegetable

production on sandy soilsÕ is funded byHAL and AUSVEG through the national

vegetable levy. Rohan is already

working on several farms with good

results, but greater grower participationwould be good.

Make Rohan and your levy work for you,

Bob Paulin, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

We can improve the quality and performance of our sandy soils on the Coastal

Plain. This was the major message delivered by all three speakers at soil quality workshops held on the 19 & 20 May at Yanchep and Mandurah.

Keeping the Battery ChargedDavid Hanlon provided an overview of the importance of managing soil organic carbon and the related soil biology. David likened our soil to a car battery and discussed Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) as an indication of the charge of that battery. He also emphasised the need to:

Quantify improvements in terms •of input (fertiliser, irrigation and pesticides) per unit of marketable product

Reverse current trends where •increasing use of fertiliser, pesticides and irrigation are needed to maintain production.

Improve soil biological activity •emphasising that having a diverse population directly contributes to reducing pests and diseases.

Increasing the level of organic carbon must become a priority for growers.

National TrialsTony Pattison from Queensland DPI outlined a National Vegetable Soil project funded by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) involving 6 vegetable growing regions in Queensland, NSW Victoria and WA.

The purpose of the work is to identify how changes to soil management could be best measured.

Grower sites using different soil management practices were selected to measure effects on soil quality associated with:

the use of organic soil •amendments (manure, compost, mulch)

reduced tillage and•

controlled traffic, to minimise the •impacts of tractors and machinery on soil compaction.

Results consistently measured improvements to crop yields, soil chemical and physical properties (nutrient content, water holding, pH, nutrient holding, soil structure) and biological properties. The results from two WA sites clearly supported these findings even two years after the addition of organic amendments had ceased.

Tony emphasised the importance of continuing to monitor soil fertility and crop nutrient levels.

The ChallengeI challenged everyone to think more broadly about how improving soil quality through increasing soil carbon could make important contributions to:

declining quality of air and water•

increasing carbon emissions•

declining food quality and•

declining health of the human •population and the environment

We focussed on the importance of increasing soil quality by working with, rather than against, natural systems and for us to learn how we can adjust our management to do this.

Local ResultsResults from 5 years of local work show that the use of compost in vegetable production increases all aspects of soil quality. We can gain larger improvements by using a combination of practices that will also lower production costs. This was illustrated with improved carrot quality that was achieved by using much less nitrogen in combination with improved soil carbon levels, providing a good example of combined practices that reduce costs, while improving marketable yields.

The different types of organic carbon are also important. These include; active decomposing materials that support soil biological activity, more stable forms that contribute to soil structure and performance and the humic substances that contribute to long term soil carbon.

Theory into PracticeAt the conclusion, all agreed that we need to:

Soil

David Hanlon Tony Pattison and Graham Rose

HeaderHeader

June, 2005 31

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FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE CONTACT JOHN BRANCHI

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Soil


Bob Paulin, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

Next edition » Progress with developing vegetable soil management

provide strong support to growers 1. interested in developing practices that will increase soil carbon and ensure that the transition from 2. current practice can be achieved without major difficulties and loss of income

Gavin Foord outlined progress towards funding a soils development officer to establish a number of grower soil management demonstration sites and provide that support. “We are about to publish our Good Practice Guide Soil Management chapter. This covers the range of Soil Management practices outlined at these workshops. The next step is to put the theory into practice, making sure that it is affordable and achievable. Improving soil performance will help us maintain production and minimise our environmental impact.”

It was very encouraging that workshop participants supported this approach and were keen to be involved.

Bob Paulin

Janet and Tom

COUNCIL SITE FOR BOOKINGSMurray (Pinjarra) Corio Rd Waste Transfer Station 9531 7777

Waroona Buller Rd Refuse Site 9733 7800

Augusta - Margaret River Davis Rd Waste Transfer Facility For Info 9757 6077

Boyup Brook Boyup Brook Recycling Centre 9765 1200

Bridgetown - Greenbushes Bridgetown Waste Facility 9761 1555

Busselton Dunsborough Waste Facility 0417 179 596

Donnybrook- Balingup Donnybrook Landfill Site 9780 4200

Balingup Landfill Site 9780 4200

Harvey Harvey Landfill 0428 950 120

Manjimup Manjimup Refuse Site 9777 2332

Pemberton Waste Transfer Station 0427 767 010

Armadale City Armadale Landfill & Recycling Facility 9399 0127

Mindarie Tamala Park 9305 5246

Broome Broome Waste Management Facility 9193 8018

COUNCIL SITE/ COLLECTION INFORockingham Miller Rd Landfill

One day in March & September

Gingin Frogmore Shire DepotFirst Wednesday each month by appointment ph: 9571 2211

Carnarvon Browns Range Landfill SiteMonday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm

Eastern Metropolitan Red Hill Waste Disposal SiteSecond Wednesday each month between 8.00am to 12 noon

Wyndham - East Kimberly KununurraContact the council

Carnarvon Shire recently signed an agreement with Agsafe Limited to participate in the Industry Waste Reduction Scheme (IWRS).

This means that all horticulture regions in WA now have a recycling service for their cleaned eligible ag and vet chemical containers through the drumMUSTER program.

A new compound for the storage of accepted containers was constructed at the Carnarvon Brown Range Landfill facility and is now open for receival during normal opening hours from Monday to Friday.

“The Shire of Carnarvon is appreciative of drumMUSTER’s support in establishing an important link in our overall waste management strategy,” said Graeme Wilks, CEO, Carnarvon Shire.

“There is also an opportunity to target other plastic type waste generated through the local horticulture industry and if successful, will contribute significantly to the further reduction of waste currently committed to landfill,” he said.

Local grower Paul Shain is pleased that the drumMUSTER program has been brought to Carnarvon.

“It will enable us to dispose of our drums in an efficient and sustainable manner,” he said.

The Carnarvon Growers Association have also been very enthusiastic in their support for the program.

“I think it’s a very positive move for Carnarvon to have drumMUSTER set up,” said Ivor Gaylard, the association’s manager.

“Empty chemical containers have been hanging around the plantations for years being a potential hazard, and we will be glad to get rid of them

in an environmentally friendly way,” he said.

Romeo Deboni, President of the association echoes Ivor’s thoughts adding, “Though its been a while coming, now that it’s here it should be a big plus for the growers, town and the environment.”

Western Australian chemical users have now recycled in excess of two million containers, removing over close to three thousand tonne of waste from landfill.

“The decision by the Shire of Carnarvon is great for drumMUSTER as we now have all the horticulture regions across Western Australia serviced by the program,” said Bevan Henderson, Northern WA drumMUSTER Regional Consultant.

The considerable support that the drumMUSTER initiative has received from local chemical retailers and grower agencies is very encouraging and has already resulted in deliveries of used containers at the collection site at the Brown Range facility.

“It is a substantial compound which is visible and accessible,” said Bevan Henderson.

drumMUSTER is Australia’s most extensive program for the environmentally safe disposal of eligible clean ag and vet chemical containers.

In years past, in not just the horticultural industry but farming in general, it has been the custom to burn and bury chemical containers or the chemicals themselves. These days the practice is frowned upon.

Most folk agree that avoiding any possible problems with the Environmental Protection Agency is well advised. And in any case, in

the long term, protecting ones farm from rubbish and toxic waste also retains and improves the value of the property for sale or for future generations.

The drumMUSTER scheme operates through Agsafe Ltd which is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation which also administers the ChemClear® program, another national stewardship scheme which specifically targets the collection and disposal of unwanted, out-of-date or obsolete chemicals.

These chemicals may be quite hazardous and are sometimes inherited as a result of the sale of a property, or may have simply been forgotten about, collecting dust in the back of a shed somewhere.

The overall aim of these commendable programs is to achieve good farm management practices so that quality assurance standards can be met, and cleaner safer land use practices will be inherited for the generations to come.

For more information on these programs, contact:

drum• MUSTER 1800 008 707 www.drummuster.com.au

ChemClear• ® 1800 008 182 www.chemclear.com.au

A grape harvesting contractor discusses growing conditions with Allan McGann, drumMUSTER National Coordinator.

drumMUSTERWA Coverage Extended - Media Release May 08

For more information regarding this media release please contact the Media Promotions Officer, Mark Koehler on 02 6230 6712 or email [email protected]

The Industry Waste Reduction Scheme (IWRS) is a nation-wide joint initiative between the National Farmers Federation (NFF), Croplife Australia Ltd, Animal Health Alliance (Aust.) Ltd, Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association (VMDA) and theAustralian Local Government Association (ALGA). This Scheme operates through Agsafe Ltd which is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation that administers the drumMUSTER and ChemClear® programs.

drumMUSTER is Australia’s most extensive program for the environmentally safe disposal of agricultural and veterinary chemical containers. ChemClear® is the national program for the collection and disposal of unwanted chemicals.

drumMUSTER Covers Carnarvon




“The Shire of Carnarvon is appreciative of drumMUSTER’s support in establishing an important link in our overall waste management strategy,” said Graeme Wilks,CEO, Carnarvon Shire.


Local grower Paul Shain is pleased that the drumMUSTER program has been brought to Carnarvon.“It will enable us to dispose of our drums in an efficient and sustainable manner,” he said.



“Empty chemical containers have been hanging around the plantations for years being a potential hazard, and we will be glad to get rid of them in an environmentally friendly way,” he said.

Romeo Deboni, President of the association echoes Ivor’s thoughts adding,“Though its been a while coming, now that it’s here it should be a big plus for the growers, town and the environment.”






drumMUSTERWA Coverage Extended - Media Release May 08

For more information regarding this media release please contact the Media Promotions Officer, Mark Koehler on 02 6230 6712 or email [email protected]

The Industry Waste Reduction Scheme (IWRS) is a nation-wide joint initiative between the National Farmers Federation (NFF), Croplife Australia Ltd, Animal Health Alliance (Aust.) Ltd, Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association (VMDA) and theAustralian Local Government Association (ALGA). This Scheme operates through Agsafe Ltd which is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation that administers the drumMUSTER and ChemClear® programs.

drumMUSTER is Australia’s most extensive program for the environmentally safe disposal of agricultural and veterinary chemical containers. ChemClear® is the national program for the collection and disposal of unwanted chemicals.





“The Shire of Carnarvon is appreciative of drumMUSTER’s support in establishing an important link in our overall waste management strategy,” said Graeme Wilks,CEO, Carnarvon Shire.


Local grower Paul Shain is pleased that the drumMUSTER program has been brought to Carnarvon.“It will enable us to dispose of our drums in an efficient and sustainable manner,” he said.



“Empty chemical containers have been hanging around the plantations for years being a potential hazard, and we will be glad to get rid of them in an environmentally friendly way,” he said.

Romeo Deboni, President of the association echoes Ivor’s thoughts adding,“Though its been a while coming, now that it’s here it should be a big plus for the growers, town and the environment.”








“Social Responsibility”

Just being nice?

When consumers tell us things that are hard to believe, the role of the

researcher is to ask simply this: I wonder why the consumer is telling us such a thing? So when Bryan explains the PMA research shows “the social responsibility of companies growing and selling produce is highly important to consumers when making produce purchase decisions,” we have to wonder what this could possibly mean.

The vast majority of items sold in the produce department are not branded; others have labels with names of obscure produce companies unfamiliar to consumers. In most cases those names aren’t the actual grower anyway – just a packer or processor. Plus only a few names sell more than one category. A typical produce department can represent hundreds of vendors and tens of thousands of growers.

One would have to believe at least 55 per cent of consumers are spending countless hours on the internet researching produce vendors and their suppliers to think consumers have any information on this subject – much less enough for it to be a “highly important” factor in purchasing decisions.

Since nobody really believes this, we are left wondering what this statistic could mean.

The question is reinforced because in response to PMA’s social responsibility list, no issue was ranked as No. 1 for more than 15 per cent of consumers. This raises the likelihood that not only don’t consumer have the information needed to evaluate produce companies on

social responsibility issues but here is no consensus on what social responsibility actually means.

This is important because it is quite possible consumers mean different things by terms such as “social responsibility” than do “experts” in this field. Experts tend to be talking in macro – how a chain or a store impacts the world. Consumers often look at these things in micro – how a store or chain affects my community.

So to the experts, a chain that spends millions buying “carbon offsets” may score high on sustainability. Consumers might view a chain that doesn’t do that but spends the same money rebuilding a local park, helping local schools and hospitals, etc., as more “socially responsible.”

It is not surprising consumers would consider themselves more socially responsible than business. The term is so vague and so subjective it almost boils down to being “nice” – treating other people well, not littering, cleaning up after oneself, etc. With such a definition, we shouldn’t be surprised if consumers think they are nicer to their friends, relatives and co-workers than companies are to their employees or suppliers.

In all likelihood, PMA’s finding about the high value consumers place on social responsibility points to three ideas:

1) It gives us a sense that this is part of the zeitgeist, a German expression roughly translated as “the spirit of the age.” People do not live in isolation, and part of what they search for in selecting product and services and choosing shopping venues is the approbation of friends and relatives.

So we can surmise that when social responsibility distinction can be communicated to consumers, a positive reputation for social responsibility will be an effective tool in attracting customers.

In another time, people might have been proud to tell their friends all the fresh produce items at tonight’s dinner party were grown in their own Victory Garden. Today they might identify that the store where they shop supports local farmers or the produce is grown in a way good for the environment.

2) The study also may point to the risk of being identified as not socially responsible. Because consumers have so little information, allegations and news reports can powerfully influence their actions. This is nothing new. The famous “grape boycott” was successful both because consumers wanted to avoid companies perceived as socially irresponsible and because they had no knowledge of the way grape farmers treated their labor nor of the intricacies of union politics.

There is also a waterfall effect. Retailers who don’t want to be seen as socially irresponsible may simply stop carrying brands or products identified negatively on these measurements. In any case, there is an enormous downside risk to being identified as socially irresponsible and, this, as much as any upside to being identified as socially responsible, might justify efforts by any industry member to perform well in this regard.

3) We can see the incipient importance of certifications. Combine a desire to be on the right side of these issues with consumer ignorance of the facts and a virtual impossibility of gaining the facts on their own, and

It is quite possible consumers mean different things by the use of terms such as “social reponsibility”

Oct 2007 Jim Prevor, Produce Business


“Social Responsibility”

June, 2005 33

BRANDT ELECTRICAL SERVICES

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* Domestic * Commercial * Industrial * Maintenance

Manufacturers and Installers of Automatic Irrigation Systems

Specialising in Service to Vegetable Growers

96 CLARKSON AVENUE, WANNEROO 6065TELEPHONE: (08) 9405 2956

MOBILE TELEPHONE: 0418 926 551FACSIMILE: (08) 9306 2173

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one has a recipe for certifications to be effective at boosting sales, enhancing retail reputations and preserving shelf space at retail. Consumers may not be able to investigate a company’s environmental impact, but a “Rainforest Alliance” certification can reassure.

The consumer cannot be expected to know how much a grower in a third-world country pays its employees,

but a fair-trade certification can allow consumers to feel good about their purchase. Retailers can be expected to want to benefit from the halo effect of these types of certifications as well - thus making a certification a powerful argument for a slot in the warehouse and shelf space in the store.

Bryan has it precisely correct when he says, “Social responsibility is all about connecting, less about selling. It is

ultimately about setting aside the usual commercial concerns such as product and price and allowing customers - both trade customers and consumers to evaluate whether you, as a company, are the kind of organisation they want to do business with.


Water

WA’s Water FutureWater Recycling by Jim Trandos and Gavin Foord, vegetablesWA

On the 18th of March the Conservation Council WA Inc and the Water Corporation

presented a forum on Water Recycling at the University Club of WA. The morning presentations included:

State Water Plan• , by the Hon John Kobelke MLA – Minister for Water Resources, Police and Emergency Services, Community Safety, Sport and Recreation.

Developing a Water Recycling •Strategy for Western Australia, by Leon English – Manager Water Recycling and Efficiency Branch, Department of Water.

The Toowoomba Water •Recycling Experience, by Di Thornley – former Mayor Toowoomba City Council.

Health Implications of •Wastewater Recycling, by Dr Jim Dodds – Environmental Health Director, Department of Health.

Pathogens and other Health •Concerns in Water: Facts and Myths, by Dr Simon Toze – Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Water for Country Flagship.

Community Acceptance of •Recycled Wastewater, by Blair Nancarrow – Social Scientist, Australian Social Scientist, Research Centre for Water in Society, CSIRO.

Groundwater Replenishment,• by Nick Turner – Strategic Manager, Reclaimed Water, Water Corporation.

These sessions were very good, with the information presented in a very clear and sometimes entertaining fashion. The overall impression was that there were a number of

wastewater recycling options that were supported by research.

After a very positive morning’s proceedings, the afternoon was disappointing. In the morning we heard about potential and solutions. In the afternoon Speaker Panel, we were told about delays and problems. While the science and much of the experience from elsewhere provides a way forward, it would seem that debate over detail will delay any development for many years.

We then moved on to group discussions or ‘facilitated community engagement sessions’. The focus of this session was “What do we want our wastewater reuse to look like by our Western Australian Bi-Centenary in 2029?” Rather than explore future opportunities, some participants used the forum to criticise present vegetable industry irrigation practices. It was very disappointing that these individuals, who are interested in sustainability, had such limited knowledge of the work we are doing

to make better use of our resources and the gains we have made in our environmental performance.

Like most people, we would like to think that 2029 will see some major technological advances in water delivery and scheduling. The groundwork we are doing now with irrigation training, developing scheduling tools (in the field and web based), SMS services and better irrigation systems, will surely continue to evolve over the next 20 years. Our vision for 2029 should be about efficient use and re-use of water resources using new technology, not about practices developed last century.

We have good communication strategies in place within our industry, but we clearly need to do more to educate the public about the good work we are doing and the changes we are making.

Images: Water Forever. Water Corporationwww.thinking50.com.au

The Water Grid


Header

“We tailor our business to meet the demands of modern chain store retailing”

Odeum Produce Pty LtdWinner: Innovative Marketing Award

“Beautiful” said Aubrey Freemantle manager of Odeum Pty Ltd when he heard that

Odeum was a finalist in the AUSVEG Innovative Marketing Awards.

“We started marketing ‘pre-cut’ Kent, Jarrahdale and Butternut pumpkins in 2004. Before that people had to buy the whole pumpkin whereas now a shopper can buy a piece of pumpkin.”

At the present time, Odeum Produce markets between 12 - 20 tonnes of pre-cut pumpkins a week. The ‘pre-

cuts’ are marketed in a high gloss, shrink-wrapped plastic film which allows the fresh pumpkin to breathe and therefore extend shelf life to a week.

Odeum’s sales of pre-cut pumpkins have now outpaced their sales of whole pumpkins. The pumpkins are grown in Western Australia: 65 per cent from Kununurra, 25 per cent from Carnarvon and are ten per cent grown locally.

“We also do peeled onions for Woolworths, Coles and Metcash,” said Aubrey.

In 2001, Odeum developed a technique for removing the dry scaly older skin to reveal the fleshy shiny younger layers using jets of compressed air. A worker manually tops and tails the onion and another operator removes the dry, outer shell using a high-pressure air flow.

The new style ‘peeled’ onions have boosted consumer demand for onions in the stores where they are available. It is likely that a whole new class of

consumers is buying the bright clean fleshy looking onions.

“We buy [Australian] onions in season and we also source them from New Zealand and America. About 30 per cent are sourced in Western Australia” said Aubrey.

“In addition to our own farms, we have implemented extensive growing programs with quality assured growers,” said Mat Bullen contracts manager.

“This approach ensures that Odeum is able maintain high levels of food safety and quality to supply our clients, and at the same time minimizes the need to buy produce through the markets.”

“We handle a lot of other products – when a product comes into the warehouse, we will either process it as per the pre-cut pumpkins and peeled onions or we repack it to the clients’ specifications.

“We buy in bulk and break the product down to the supermarkets’ requirements. For example, the

AUSVEG Innovative Marketing Award Winner

Linda Manning

General Manager Aubrey Freemantle

Pre-cut pumpkins Peeled onions Butternuts ready to go out

36

AUSVEG Innovative Marketing Award Winner

WA Grower June 2008

rock melons arrive in a bin we might pack them into trays of eight or nine fruit. The ginger arrives in 10 kilogram boxes and will be packed into 3 kilogram trays. The mandarins arrive in 9 kilogram cartons and will be graded and packed into 12 kilogram trays and the oranges arrive in bulk bins and will be packed into 3 kilogram bags.

“We sort, grade and repack pumpkins, water melons, sweet potatoes, citrus, rock melons, melons and honey dews, silver beet, spinach and other leafy veg, cucumbers and prepack tomatoes. We don’t handle carrots and potatoes because there are specialist operators who have cornered that niche..”

“Our main clients are the chain stores. We tailor our business to meet the

demands of modern chain store retailing”, said Mat.

Two investors and three growers own Odeum Produce. The investors and executive directors are Victor Farcic and Lance Fitzgerald. The growers and non-executive directors are John Marinovich, and Tim Croot and Rob Boschammer from the Kimberleys.

Odeum Produce operates their business on 10,000 square metres of land at Canningvale, of which 6,000 square metres is under cover. They employ between 50 and 75 people depending on the time of year.

Odeum Produce is only one of two finalists for the 2008 AUSVEG awards from Western Australia. Odeum was nominated by carrot and potato grower Sam Calameri.

What is the future for youngsters in the industry? “I believe that the youngsters of today should be promoted”, said Aubrey Freemantle. “There should be funding to educate them and welcome them into the business. They are the future as far as growing is concerned.

“Unfortunately, there is no incentive to go into growing at present. All they see is a future of backache, headache and heartache and they can choose to work in a bank instead of working on the land.

“We should look at welcoming them into the industry. There should be family invitations to industry events. The youngsters are the future of the industry. Succession planning does not just happen, they should be groomed for management.

“Employees in the fresh produce industry should be able to spend three to four weeks in the markets and three to four weeks in the field. That way, they will appreciate weather conditions and growers’ decisions, and know how it affect the produce and appreciate it and handle it with respect. Instead, they reckon that they can pick someone up from the street and they will be able to do the job.

Pumpkins ready for grading

Contracts manager Mat BullenSales Associate Valentino de Souza Administration manager Jackie Trevaskis

37

HeaderAUSVEG Chairman’s Award Finalist

WA Grower June 2008

Yvonne, a popular member of Carnarvon’s horticultural community, is thrilled to have

been nominated, and honoured to have been chosen as a finalist for the AusVeg Chairman’s Award.

Yvonne has had a long association with horticulture in Carnarvon, firstly as an owner of a banana plantation from 1965 until 2001 and through that to positions on the Gascoyne Produce Marketing Association, the Carnarvon Mango Exporters Group, the Carnarvon Fly Baiting Scheme, and the Carnarvon Horticultural Development Council. She has represented Carnarvon and Western Australia nationally.

She is also the recipient of the Red Cross Long Service Medal.

Yvonne was declared Citizen of the Year in 1983 and North West Rural Woman of the Year in 1995.

She received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Minister of Health for contribution to the work of the Heart-Cancer-Arthritis Foundation. She also received a Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition—for Agriculture Protection.

Yvonne was made a Life Member of Carnarvon Growers Association Inc. in 2002.

Yvonne was also active in the community at the St Mary’s School, the Junior Football Association, the Junior Soccer Association, the Junior Cricket Association, and the Carnarvon High School P & C and canteen. She held positions in St George’s Church, St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s bazaar, the Red Cross, Soroptimist International, Australia

Week Committee, the Cancer Foundation, and the Heart-Cancer-Arthritis Foundation. Yvonne is a Life Member of the Junior Cricket Council

In her spare time, she taught English to migrants on plantations.

She is a member of the Equal Opportunities Tribunal.

Some of the positions relating to horticulture that she has held follow:

Gascoyne Produce Marketing •Group - inaugural member and executive officer,

Carnarvon Mango Exporters Group •- secretary, treasurer & coordinator from 1989-1996

Carnarvon Fruit Fly Baiting •Scheme – executive officer since 1983,

Carnarvon Growers Association – •secretary since 1985,

Carnarvon Horticultural •Development Council – inaugural member,

Gascoyne Floriculture Steering •Committee 1994-1997,

W.A. Representative for •Horticulture to the International Women in Agriculture Conference 1994

4• th International Mango Symposium in Florida USA in 1992 - attendee

Curtin University Export Marketing •Project 1993 - member,

Agriculture WA Group Marketing •trip to Kununurra,

Agriculture WA Centenary to •promote Export Mangoes - attendee,

Leadership Course Canberra 1995 •– attendee,

National Mango Forum in Brisbane •1996 – attendee,

Resource Management Workshop •Canberra 1996 – attendee,

Australian Fresh Mango Group •Carnarvon region 1995-2001 – coordinator and quality manager 1999-2000,

Tropical Fruits HortGuard• ™ - Chairperson to 2001, now committee member,

WA North West Rural Woman of •the Year 1995,

Agriculture WA, Horticulture •Partnership Group 1996 – board member,

Carnarvon Growers Peak Body •Executive Officer – member since 2002,

Canning Vale Market Review •Committee 2002 – member, and

Agricultural Produce Commission •January 2004 – commissioner.

Yvonne Fahl Finalist for the AUSVEG Chairman’s Award


News

Australia lags behind China’s horticulture sector A global comparative analysis project has shown that when compared with China, the Australian industry must move quickly to improve its international competitiveness.

The study was initiated by the Australian Vegetable Industry Development Group (AVIDG) and funded by the vegetable industry’s R&D levy.

The project involved extensive on-ground research within China and was completed with the active involvement of the Vegetable Industry Exporter Network, which includes some of Australia’s leading vegetable exporters.

The project focused primarily on China and investigated current trends relating to international trade in fresh and processed vegetables.

The findings show a steady growth in international trade in vegetable products, dominated by supply from China, whose exports have risen from $US2 billion to $US5bn during the past 10 years.

“While international trade is expanding, Australian vegetable exporters are losing market share overseas and imports are rising. Australia’s exports have fallen by 50pc since the peak in 2003 and now represent less than 10pc of the industry’s gross value of production,” says AVIDG chairman, Richard Bovill.

China has low labour costs and supportive government policies on rural development that have helped to sustain this growth.

China continues to gather momentum as a major vegetable exporter, increasingly driven by large well-resourced businesses that are addressing issues relating to productivity, environmental constraints and food safety.

The study also found that China presents few opportunities to Australian vegetable exporters. Small niches exist for premium offerings in affluent urban areas.

The report from the Global Comparative Analysis Foundation Project can be read or downloaded from the AVIDG website by visiting www.avidgroup.net.au

source: http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/horticulture/General/australia-lags-behind-chinas-horti-sector/784584.aspx (July 2008)

Foodnet The Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) is providing a new helpline service to provide technical and scientific information, networking opportunities and knowledge transfer to support the WA food and beverage industry. DAFWA has formed strategic alliances with reputable organisations such as Leatherhead Food International (LFI), Curtin University’s Food Science department, Food Science Australia and other government departments (AQIS, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Health and the Chemistry Centre). By doing so, DAFWA acts as the conduit for information and knowledge transfer in order to respond to queries relating to all aspects of food manufacture, including food safety, food labelling advice, allergens, trouble-shooting, packaging, reformulation and emerging technologies. Phone: 1300 553 623 or email your query to [email protected]

Green tea and ham to bolster Aussie pork salesGreen tea in ham may sound too much like Dr Seuss to be true, but the combination is set to change the

processed ham market and boost the local industry by shifting large volumes of Australian-produced pork.

Hans has developed its new Country Fresh packaged ham to tap into the growing consumer desire for healthy, wholesome and quality produce.

And while that may sound easy, the Country Fresh has been 18 months in the making, with more than $150,000 spent on scientific research which has revolutionised the processed ham sector.

The result is Hans Country Fresh, a thicker cut of sliced ham sold in 100-gram packages, but with an off-the-bone flavour and the health benefits of containing 25 percent less salt than other packaged hams thanks to the use of green tea as the anti-oxidant agent. Country Fresh is already on supermarket shelves around the country, and last week impressed the 35,000 visitors to the Melbourne Good Fine and Wine show.

The international olive industry is one step closer to implementing regulations that will support fair exports and consumers’ interest. This follows a hot topic session coordinated by the Australian Olive Association at the American Oil Chemists’ Society annual meeting held in Seattle, USA, on 20 May. Paul Miller, president of the AOA, was invited by the AOCS, the major international organisation for food oil chemistry, to present a session on ‘Regional approaches to extra virgin olive oil quality’, which included nine speakers from Europe, Argentina, the USA, Canada and Australia. Paul Miller said Australia, which is currently the largest consumer of olive oil per capita outside the Mediterranean, is seen as a technical

Agriculture News

News

TomatoesMERCURY F1

• Indeterminate Gourmet tomato.

• Large (200g+), glossy firm red fruit.

• Proven performer in all regions in W.A. Essential TSWV and Nematode resistance for Western Australia.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2 / MIR: TSWV

YIELD!!!HERCULES F1

• Hercules is a blocky capsicum. • It produces fruit that are

approximately 11 x 10cm and weigh 300-350gm.

• The bush on Hercules is short and strong for excellent sunburn protection and is best field grown

Resistances: HR: TMV / PMMoV:1-2 / PVY:0,1,1-2 / PepMoV / PepYMVIR: CMV / Pc

SPF 30+MERCURY

•

•

•

YIELD!!!SUNSHINE F1

• Sunshine is a large, blocky green turning yellow capsicum.

• Strong, productive plant with good foliage cover.

• Fast turning bright yellow fruit which remain firm at maturity

Resistances:HR: TMV / PMMoV:1-2IR: TSWV

NEW

TITAN F1

• Titan (Roma) is a 130-140gm indeterminate roma tomato.

• Titan has high yield and very good quality fruit.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2,3 / MIR: Ss / TSWV

QUALITY FRUIT!RICH COLOUR + QUALITY

RED JEWEL F1

• Red Jewel is an elongated green turning dark red blocky type.

• It produces fruit that are approximately 12 x 10cm and weigh 300-350gm.

• The bush is vigorous and strong and is better grown with support.

Resistances: HR: TMV / PVY:0,1,1-2 / PepMoV / PepYMV / Xv:1,2,3IR: TSWV

DEO F1

• Deo is large, elongated blocky green turning yellow capsi-cum.

• Compared to Sunshine, Deo is larger in size but not as quick to change colour as Sunshine.

Resistances:Intermediate Resistance to TSWV

SIZE + TSWV

Capsicum

TITAN

• Titan (Roma) is a 130-140gm

• Titan has high yield and very • Titan has high yield and very good quality fruit.

Resistances:HR: ToMV / V / Fol:1,2,3 / MIR: Ss / TSWV

QUALITY FRUIT!

HR: High/standard resistance.IR: Moderate/intermediate resistance.For key to diseases, please refer to our website: www.clausetezier.comThe descriptions, recommendations and suggestions are offered in goodfaith, for informational purposes only and can therefore in no way act as a guarantee of production.

DEO

•

• Compared to Sunshine, Deo is

Resistances:Intermediate Resistance to TSWV

SIZE + TSWV

HERCULESHERCULES• •

•

SPF 30+

RICH COLOUR + QUALITY

RED JEWEL

•

•

•

WA Sales and Development Manager: Graham Adams Mobile: 0400 622 314 -e-mail: [email protected]

leader of new olive oil producers due to its modern technical and scientific approach to agriculture. “Our olive oil industry is involved directly in issues of regulation and quality definition whereas, in the EU countries, there is a disconnection between the producers, the scientists and regulators,” Miller said.

Source; www.foodweek.com.au 6 June 2008

11 – 13 July, Good Food and Wine Show Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre Australia’s largest and most exciting consumer food and wine exhibition is coming to Perth in 2008. The new Good Food & Wine Show promises to be a spectacular event and will build on the foundations laid down by the enormously popular WA Wine & Food Festival. The show will maintain the best of the West while adding many new features designed to entertain, educate and excite.

http://www.goodfoodshow.com.au/page/perth_visitor.html

25 JULY 2008, Market City Ball and Fresh Produce Awards NightThis year’s 2008 Market City Ball and Fresh Produce Awards Night is going to be held in the Astral Room at the Burswood International Resort, on Friday 25th July. Nominees will vie for several prestigious Fresh Produce awards, including Retailer of the Year, Regional Retailer of the Year, Best Supermarket and Outstanding Contribution Towards Promotion of Fresh Produce. The Awards will be presented by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Hon Kim Chance MLC. The Ball promises to be a fantastic night out, with music and entertainment from superb live acts. Tickets are limited due to the capacity of the venue. To reserve tickets call the Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries on 9455 2742 or 0410 567 470.

Market Info Western Australia’s Agrifood Market Outlook 2008, is the inaugural publication brought to you by an experienced team of Market Analysts in Food and Trade Development. This yearly publication provides both internal and external clients with the latest information on major Western Australia’s Agrifood exports markets which includes: Market Overview, Consumer Trends, Market/Industry issues and opportunities and

New Nutrition Business If you would like access to New Nutrition Business through the Western Australian Government’s subscription, please email [email protected]

UK Toolkit: Designed to assist the Australian food industries to export to the United Kingdom and Europe the 8 Steps toolkit is a must for any company considering it.


HeaderFigaro Natoli

EditorialEating habits

Amulti-pronged approach which includes taxes on junk food, health food subsidies

and promotion of nutritious food is needed to combat the nation’s obesity epidemic, says the Australian Medical Association.

Association President Dr Rosanna Capolingua said supermarkets needed to act responsibly when displaying products so that customers were encouraged to make healthy choices.

“Supermarkets have a lot of influence over consumers’ purchases,” she said.

“Price specials and promotions around lower sugar and lower fat foods would help consumers. Australians should not have to pay more at the check-out to live healthier lives.”

This type of statement might make the policy makers at the AMA all warm and fuzzy, but it will achieve nothing because it does not address the major issues.

The more affluent we become as a society the lazier we get.

Supermarkets now act responsibly, and provide the consumer with choice, which they demand, and are, entitled too.

Who is responsible for a person’s food consumption, the individual or a second or third party?

The ocean of information about how to eat healthy and look after our bodies is fed to us everyday of the week from a multiplicity of news outlets.

Tax on junk food will not work because it is comfort food and people will buy it whatever the cost.

Subsidies for healthy food?

What a joke.

The implementation of this subsidy is totally unworkable.

What makes the AMA think it will increase the population’s willingness to eat healthy food?

A Professor of nutrition in NSW has the idea of a shopper docket system that the consumer presents for a tax refund or credit every three months or annually.

It amazes me that all this intelligentsia think they will change the eating habits of a nation by offering money incentives.

Effort is what is required and a willingness to take care of your partners and family and be responsible for their health and wellbeing.

NOT expecting the tax payer to pick up the tab for your irresponsibility.

Children and their parents who cannot identify vegetables past cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, Iceburg lettuce and potatoes have no appreciation of the taste sensations and health benefits that come as a result of eating the full range of vegetables.

If parents are too lazy to teach their children the correct way of eating and looking after themselves, then it needs to start at kindergarten and continue to year 12.

The notion that fresh vegetables are too expensive is nonsense.

If a cauliflower is $5 due to a hiccup in the supply line there are a heap of different leaf vegetables, root vegetables, Chinese vegetables and many more.

The problem is that adults, based on nothing, refuse to try.

This is reflected in their children because mum and dad have never given them the opportunity to try or insisted they try.

If children do not see the ease in which a well-balanced meal is prepared and hear mum or dad say “I haven’t got time”, or “I am too tired”, through their up-bringing the problem will always remain.

However, the fact the public and the media is now discussing proper eating habits might suggest we are on the right track.

Spud Corner

1

News in Brief

Spud CornerISSUE 04 | JUNE 2008western australia

State Executive Members:

PresidentMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

Vice PresidentsMr Bert RussellPh/Fax (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

Executive OfficerMr Jim TurleyPh: (08) 9481 0834Fax: (08) 9481 0024Mobile: 0410 697 842E: [email protected]

Zone ChairmenAlbanyMr Terry AckleyPh: (08) 9841 4286Fax: (08) 9841 1987Mobile: 0427 423 684

BusseltonMr Darryl SmithPh/Fax: (08) 9755 4121Mobile: 0428 933 154

DonnybrookMr Bert RussellPh/Fax: (08) 9731 8216Mobile: 0429 318 216

ManjimupMr Paul TempraPh: (08) 9772 1102Fax: (08) 9772 1103Mobile: 0417 095 899

MetropolitanMr David AndersonPh: (08) 9529 2325Fax: (08) 9529 1325Mobile: 0418 195 759

MyalupMs Pennie PatanePh: (08) 9720 2235Fax: (08) 9720 2236Mobile: 0407 993 580

PembertonSimon MoltoniPh/Fax: (08) 9776 1693Mobile: 0427 761 693

Processing RepresentativeMr Gary BendottiPh: (08) 9776 1230Fax: (08) 9776 0330Mobile: 0427 569 903

CONTENTS

Potato Facts ........................................... 3

The Global Potato Economy .............. . 4

Seed Suppliers ....................................... 6

World Potato Congress 2009 ................ 6

Potato Growers Association of WA Incorporated by Jim Turley

Minister agrees to refund water licence feesSince I reported in our March magazine we have witnessed the second set of Water Licence Fee regulations disallowed by our State Parliament.

June 23 - I can now announce that the Minister has agreed to refund all the growers and it is my opinion that he won’t reintroduce Water Licence Fee regulations until after the election or until after the legislation has been passed next year.

This is in line with repeated requests made by vegetablesWA, Fruit Growers’ Association and the Farmers Federation for the Minister to refund fees to the growers.

Also since the March report, I have had dinner with Ken Matthews (CEO) National Water Commission, where I explained very carefully the Western Australian grower’s point of view on the overall water reform agenda.

As a member of the Water Steering Committee for the Horticulture Water Initiative I attended a meeting in Melbourne where all the National Strategic issues were discussed.

ACCC TAKES ACTIONHorticulture Code of Conduct Agreements must be signed

Recently there have been five cases where action has been taken by the ACCC for not having Horticulture Produce Agreements (contracts). With all the publicity surrounding the necessity for growers to sign an agreement when trading horticulture produce with agents or merchants, I was very surprised to learn that some of our growers are still trading without having a signed agreement.

The ACCC is now actively checking with agents, merchants, growers, market places

and anywhere else where horticulture produce is traded. They have, in the opinion of the ACCC, given everybody enough time to comply.

The ACCC regards any attempt to deliberately disregard the Horticulture Code very seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if necessary through the Federal Court.

Caring for our Country – Better Land Management

Our office has just received a joint media release from the Hon Peter Garrett MP Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Arts and the Hon Tony Burke MP Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Caring for our Country Program will deliver funding to local communities through a single “one stop shop” covering the National Heritage Trust and the

2

Spud Corner

2

National Landcare, Environmental Stewardship and Working on Country programs.

The $2.25 billion package represents a new, coordinated approach to environmental management in Australia.

vegetablesWA is well placed to extend our two programs that deal with the delivery of nutrients and water into the soil. As you are aware our Good Practice manual has been an outstanding success, in helping the Government to understand what the growers are doing, to be environmentally sustainable.

COAG WATER REFORM

Yesterday (19 May 2008) I attended a COAG Water Reform session.

There is no doubt in my mind that COAG will be a major influence in the water reform decision making process through “Water Smart Australia” and also the use of the National Partnership payments.

Some of the issues discussed at the session included:

Forward work program on Water

Four priority areas: overallocation and improved • environmental outcomes enhancing water markets • urban water reforms • human resources, skills and • information

Six priority projects Extend the CSIRO sustainable • yields study outside MDBCoordinate existing water • recovery programs in the MDBNational guidelines on the • concepts of overallocation, overuse and sustainable yieldAccelerate implementation of • NWI interception commitmentsPrioritise implementation of NWI • groundwater commitmentsReview of water related structural • adjustments programs

Extend the CSIRO sustainable 1. yields study beyond the MDB

Aim: Extend to south-western Western Australia, (a line drawn between Geraldton and Albany),Tasmania and northern Australia. Completion by June 2009 (northern Australia), end June 2009 (WA and Tas)

Environmental water purchasing2. Aim: Advise on options for

improving coordination of government environmental water purchasing programs by July 2008

National concept guidelines3. Aim: Develop national guidelines

on the concepts of overallocation, overuse and sustainable yield by August 2008

Accelerate NWI interception 4. commitments

Aim: Accelerate implementation of NWI commitments in

relation to interception where interception poses a significant risk to achieving the objectives of water resource plansPrioritise NWI groundwater 5. commitments

Aim: Advise on priorities for implementation on ground water planning and management by August 2008

Review structural adjustment 6. programs

Aim: Assess the effectiveness of existing structural adjustment programs, and identify options to facilitate structural adjustment

Also Water Registers Aim: Ensure compatible

electronic registers by April 2009, and examine the feasibility of a common register

Implement arrangementsRevise NWI, including timetable • for implementationConsider streamlined governance• Consider funding opportunities•

This office is also contributing to the discussion on:

The Gnangara Groundwater Management Plan

South west Groundwater Water Management Plan – allocation

For further information on any of the above, I am available on 9481 0834.

Spud Corner

0-4 months $70 per tonne plus GST

4-12 months $90 per tonne plus GST

Capacity up to 1,500 TonneDonnybrookPh: Anthoney 0417 919 906

3 3

Potato factsWhile Peru is quick to claim them, potatoes are thought to have originated in the central Andes mountains extending from northern Peru south eastward to southern Bolivia.

They remain an important part of Andean society today. Potatoes are known as “people’s food” and played a central role in the Andean vision of the world. Time; for example, was traditionally measured by how long it took to cook a pot of potatoes.

Farmers in some parts of the high Andes still measure land on topo, the area a family needs to grow their potato supply. A topo is larger at higher altitudes, where plots need to lie fallow for longer.

Andean farmers classify potatoes not only by species and variety, but by the ecological niche where the tubers grow best. It is not unusual to find four or five species cultivated on a single, small plot of land.

While Australia cultivates more than 1 million tonnes of potatoes per year, China is the largest world producer harvesting 72 million tonnes last year.

The people of Belarus eat the most potatoes however, with more than 330 kilograms consumed per person each year. In 2007, potato farmers produced more than 320 million tonnes of potatoes globally. Today potatoes are grown on an estimated 195,000 sq km of farmland, which is about three times the area of Tasmania.

Popular varieties of potato in Australia include the Pontiac, Idaho, Desiree, Kipfler, Russet Burbank, Sebago, Coliban, Bintje, Spunta and Nicola.

The potato is a member of the Nightshade family.

Fruit & Vegetable News May 2008

Spud CornerSpud CornerSource: www.potato2008.org

western austral ia

Spud Corner

4

The global potato economy Key points

In 2005, for the first time, the • developing world’s potato production exceeded that of the developed world.Subsistence potato growing in • developing countries is declining as producers reorient toward domestic and international markets.Global consumption is shifting • from fresh potatoes to added value processed products.In international trade, both the • value and volume of traded processed products far outweigh trade in fresh tubers.Developing countries are net • importers in international potato trade, which in 2005 was estimated to be worth US$6 billion.Despite its importance as a • staple food and in combating hunger and poverty, potato has been neglected in agricultural development policies for food crops.

Potato production in developed

countries, especially in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, has declined on average by one percent per annum over the past 20 years. However, output in developing countries has expanded at an average rate of five percent per year. Asian countries, particularly China and India, fuelled this growth.

In 2005, the developing countries’ share of global potato output stood at 52 percent, surpassing that of the developed world. This is a remarkable achievement, considering that just 20 years ago the developing countries’ share in global production was little more than 20 percent. Even so, world potato production and consumption are currently expanding more slowly than the global population.

Fresh potato consumption, once the mainstay of world potato utilization, is decreasing in many countries, especially in developed regions. Currently, more potatoes are processed to meet rising demand from the fast food, snack and convenience food industries. The major drivers behind this development include growing urban populations, rising incomes, the diversification of diets and lifestyles that leave less time for preparing the fresh product for consumption.

Potatoes are commonly regarded as a bulky, perishable commodity with high transport costs and limited export potential, confined mostly to cross-border transactions. These constraints have

not hampered the international potato trade, which has doubled in volume and risen almost fourfold in value since the mid-1980s. This growth is due to unprecedented international demand for processed products, particularly frozen and dehydrated potato products. To date, developing countries have not been beneficiaries of this trade expansion. As a group, they have emerged as leading net importers of the commodity.

International trade in potatoes and potato products still remains thin relative to production, as only around 6 percent of output is traded. High transport costs, including the cost of refrigeration, are major obstacles to a wider international marketplace.

Trade policies import tariffs are used to

protect domestic potato markets. Other

The global potato economy

Developing countries are

now the world’s biggest

potato producers – and

importers – and consumer

demand is shifting from

fresh tubers to processed

products

Key points

In 2005, for the first time, the

developing world’s potato

production exceeded that of the

developed world

Subsistence potato growing in

developing countries is declining

as producers reorient toward

domestic and international

markets

Global consumption is shifting

from fresh potatoes to added-

value processed products

In international trade, both the

value and volume of traded

processed products far outweigh

trade in fresh tubers

Developing countries are net

importers in international potato

trade, which in 2005 was

estimated to be worth US$6

billion.

Despite its importance as a

staple food and in combating

hunger and poverty, potato has

been neglected in agricultural

development policies for food

crops

Imports and exports of processed products now dominate world potato trade

Global potato trade volume (tuber equivalent),1986-2005million tonnes

processed volume fresh volume

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

* including Ukraine, Belarus, Canada, Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey, Bangladesh, Peru, Brazil

China and India now account for 30 percent of world potato output

Major producers, 1992/94 (av.) Major producers, 2003/05 (av.)

EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%

Global transactions worth close to US$6 billion, driven by processed potatoes

Global potato trade value, 1986-2005

million US$

Net trade position of developing countriescontinues to deteriorate

Potato net trade (exports-imports)in tuber equivalent, 1986-2005

million tonnes

fresh value processed value developing countriesdeveloped countries

0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Developing countriesDeveloped countries

World potato production 1990-2006




1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



Developing countries arenow the world’s biggestpotato producers – andimporters – and consumerdemand is shifting fromfresh tubers to processedproductsPotato production in developed countries, especially in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, has declined on average by one percent per annum over the past 20 years. However, output in developing countries has expanded at an average rate of five percent per year. Asian countries, particularly China and India, fuelled this growth.


Fresh potato consumption, once the mainstay of world potato utilization, is decreasing in many countries, especially in developed regions. Currently, more potatoes are processed to meet rising

demand from the fast food, snack and convenience food industries. The major drivers behind this development include growing urban populations, rising incomes, the diversification of diets and lifestyles that leave less time for preparing the fresh product for consumption.

Potatoes are commonly regarded as a bulky, perishable commodity with high transport costs and limited export potential, confined mostly to cross-border transactions. These constraints have not hampered the international potato trade, which has doubled in volume and risen almost fourfold in value since the mid-1980s. This growth is due to unprecedented international demand for processed products, particularly frozen and dehydrated potato products. To date, developing countries have not been beneficiaries of this trade expansion. As a group, they have emerged as leading net importers of the commodity.


Trade policies

Ad valorem import tariffs are used to protect domestic potato markets. Other policies that restrict access to markets include sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.

Import tariffs on potatoes and potato products are applied by most countries. The binding rates agreed under the aegis of the World Trade Organization vary considerably. Potato provides a classic example of “tariff escalation”, where importing countries protect processing industries by levying higher duties on processed products than on raw material. By preventing countries

policies that restrict access to markets include sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.

Import tariffs on potatoes and potato products are applied by most countries. The binding rates agreed under the aegis of the World Trade Organization vary considerably. Potato provides a classic example of “tariff escalation”, where importing countries protect processing industries by levying higher duties on processed products than on raw material. By preventing countries from diversifying their export base into higher-value processed products, tariff escalation can therefore keep them “trapped” as providers of raw material.

Countries wishing to supply potato commodities to the international market – especially to the more lucrative developed country markets – also face

considerable hurdles in the form of food health standards and technical regulations. The Doha Development Round of trade negotiations recognizes the negative impacts of tariff escalation and contains important provisions aimed at ensuring that standards and regulations do not become de facto barriers to trade or hidden protectionist policies, while at the same time putting public health concerns foremost. Unfortunately, negotiations pertaining to the Doha agenda have suffered a series of setbacks, and agreement on a final solution has yet to materialize.

Potato potentialPotato’s positive attributes, particularly its high nutritional value and potential to boost incomes, have not received the attention they deserve from governments. The lack of established marketing channels, inadequate institutional support and infrastructure, and restrictive trade policies are impediments to commercialization of the sector. National and international stakeholders need to place potato higher on the development agenda.

About IYP 2008

The International Year of the Potato, to be celebrated throughout 2008, aims at raising global awareness of the potato’s key role in agriculture, the economy and world food security.

www.potato2008.org

Contact:

International Year of the Potato Secretariat

Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations

Room C-776

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla

00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233

E-mail: [email protected]

Credits:

Information provided by the Trade and

Markets Division, FAO.

WTO Bound Tariff (%)

Product Trade Weighted Average Maximum

Fresh potatoes (inc. seed) 29 378

Frozen potatoes 16 414

Potato �our* 38 446

Potato starch 109 550

* includes flour, meal, flakes, granules and pellets




1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



Spud CornerSpud CornerSource: www.potato2008.org

western austral ia

Spud Corner

4

The global potato economy Key points

In 2005, for the first time, the • developing world’s potato production exceeded that of the developed world.Subsistence potato growing in • developing countries is declining as producers reorient toward domestic and international markets.Global consumption is shifting • from fresh potatoes to added value processed products.In international trade, both the • value and volume of traded processed products far outweigh trade in fresh tubers.Developing countries are net • importers in international potato trade, which in 2005 was estimated to be worth US$6 billion.Despite its importance as a • staple food and in combating hunger and poverty, potato has been neglected in agricultural development policies for food crops.

















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




1986

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1986

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1986

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1991

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1 000

500

0

5

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3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

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1986

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4 500

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3 500

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2 500

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1 500

1 000

500

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3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

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-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




1986

1987

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1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

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1998

1999

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2003

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1986

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4 500

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1 000

500

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1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

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1989

1990

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

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150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




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1986

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-3

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

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200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



Developing countries arenow the world’s biggestpotato producers – andimporters – and consumerdemand is shifting fromfresh tubers to processedproductsPotato production in developed countries, especially in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, has declined on average by one percent per annum over the past 20 years. However, output in developing countries has expanded at an average rate of five percent per year. Asian countries, particularly China and India, fuelled this growth.


Fresh potato consumption, once the mainstay of world potato utilization, is decreasing in many countries, especially in developed regions. Currently, more potatoes are processed to meet rising

demand from the fast food, snack and convenience food industries. The major drivers behind this development include growing urban populations, rising incomes, the diversification of diets and lifestyles that leave less time for preparing the fresh product for consumption.

Potatoes are commonly regarded as a bulky, perishable commodity with high transport costs and limited export potential, confined mostly to cross-border transactions. These constraints have not hampered the international potato trade, which has doubled in volume and risen almost fourfold in value since the mid-1980s. This growth is due to unprecedented international demand for processed products, particularly frozen and dehydrated potato products. To date, developing countries have not been beneficiaries of this trade expansion. As a group, they have emerged as leading net importers of the commodity.


Trade policies

Ad valorem import tariffs are used to protect domestic potato markets. Other policies that restrict access to markets include sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.

Import tariffs on potatoes and potato products are applied by most countries. The binding rates agreed under the aegis of the World Trade Organization vary considerably. Potato provides a classic example of “tariff escalation”, where importing countries protect processing industries by levying higher duties on processed products than on raw material. By preventing countries






About IYP 2008


www.potato2008.org

Contact:




Room C-776


00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233


Credits:













1986

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India8%

China22%

others*33%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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2

1

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-3

-4

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



Spud CornerSpud Corner

035

Spud Corner

5

from diversifying their export base into higher-value processed products, tariff escalation can therefore keep them “trapped” as providers of raw material.

Countries wishing to supply potato commodities to the international market – especially to the more lucrative developed country markets – also face considerable hurdles in the form of food health standards and technical regulations. The Doha Development Round of trade negotiations recognizes the negative impacts of tariff escalation and contains important provisions aimed at ensuring that standards and regulations do not become de facto barriers to trade or hidden

protectionist policies, while at the same time putting public health concerns foremost. Unfortunately, negotiations pertaining to the Doha agenda have suffered a series of setbacks, and agreement on a final solution has yet to materialize.

Potato potential

Potato’s positive attributes, particularly its high nutritional value

and potential to boost incomes, have not received the attention they deserve from governments. The lack of established marketing channels, inadequate institutional support and infrastructure, and restrictive trade policies are impediments to commercialization of the sector. National and international stakeholders need to place potato higher on the development agenda.

















products

Key points




developed world





markets












billion.






crops




1986

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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RussianFederation

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EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006








About IYP 2008


www.potato2008.org

Contact:




Room C-776


00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233


Credits:













1986

1987

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1994

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1999

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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EU29%

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others*33%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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0

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-2

-3

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

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150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006








About IYP 2008


www.potato2008.org

Contact:




Room C-776


00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233


Credits:













1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

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1998

1999

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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

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RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


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EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006








About IYP 2008


www.potato2008.org

Contact:




Room C-776


00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233


Credits:













1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

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2003

2004

2005

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1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006








About IYP 2008


www.potato2008.org

Contact:




Room C-776


00153 Rome, Italy

Tel. + (39) 06-5705-5859, 06-5705-4233


Credits:













1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

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2001

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2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006






1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

25

20

15

10

5

0

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5




EU29%

India8%

China22%

others*33%

USA6%

RussianFederation

11%

EU20%

India6%

China15%

others*30%

USA7%

RussianFederation

13%



million US$



million tonnes


0

50

100

150

200

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



6

Spud CornerSuppliers of generation three and later Registered and Certified Seed Potato

Suppliers of generation three and later Registered and Certified Seed PotatoEstimated Harvested Jan 2008 on

Alm

era

Atlantic

Bliss

Burnadet

Coliban

Delaw

are

Desiree

Eben

Eureka

FL 1867

Gabriel

Granola

Harm

ony

Kennebec

Kestrel

Kipfler

Lady Christl

MacR

usset

Mondial

Nadine

Nooksack

Norland W

isc SR

Ranger R

usset

Red R

ascal

Royal B

lue

Ruby Lou

Shepody

Spunta

White S

tar

Wilstore

ACKLEY & WESTCOTT Ph 98415474

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

AYRES & SON Ph 98451014

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

BENDOTTI EXPORTERS Ph 97718964

! ! ! ! ! !

BOCIAN, J & D Ph 98464306

! !

CAPEL FARMS PTY LTD Ph 97273100

! ! ! ! !

DARNELL, AH Ph 97574531

! ! ! ! !

FOX, JS Ph 97761253

! ! ! !

FOX, TP & RM Ph 97761238

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

GRUGEON, J Ph 97582300

! !

MOLTONI, SE Ph 97761693

! ! ! !

PEMBERTON CATTLE Co Ph 97761693

!

PEOS BROTHERS Ph 97772222

! ! ! !

PHILLIPS, JD Ph 0408937081

! !

RH OMODEI & SONS Ph 97761121

!

RT WOLFE & CO Ph 98451059

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SJ WOLFE & SON Ph 98451248

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Christchurch is the agricultural hub of New Zealand’s South Island and serves as the gateway to the splendours of the Southern Alps, the Marlborough wine country, the wild West Coast and historic Otago high country. Christchurch offers an endless supply of activities, from riding the historic tram to jet boating on the Rangitata River to hill walking in the Port Hills, all close to thecity. At the end of the day choose from a variety of restaurants, from the fun Fish and Chip Shop to the fine dining of the Octagon. Christchurch caters for all tastes.

Timed to enjoy the warm end of summer days, the Congress will follow a pad-dock to plate theme by having concur-rent industry and academic workshops. Covering topics from crop management to harvesting, processing of non-food product to what our consumers want, the Congress is designed to meet the needs and interests of the international potato industry participants.

We have included a special one day science based workshop prior to the Congress, on Sunday the 22nd of March and pay tribute to the International

Year of the Potato successes at a special breakfast to be held on Wednesday 25th of March.

Not to forget the evening activities planned beginning with the welcome cocktail party on Sunday 22nd, followed by dinner options of BBQ and jet boat-ing or an evening of Maori culture on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday evening at the Congress Dinner, you’ll see New Zealand at its best.

Please join us in Christchurch in March 2009 for the 7th World Potato Congress.

The 2009 World Potato Congress will be in Christchurch, New Zealand 23rd – 25th March 2009 source: www.wpcnz.org.nz

Professor Phil Simon

Users in W.A. Include •Commercial Vegetable & Fruit Growers •Sporting Venues in WA •School & Shire Ovals, Golf Courses•Hundreds of domestic stock & Garden suppliers

SALINE CALCIUM AFFECTED

BORES SOAKS DAMS…...

IN USE THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA

Contact:

Brief History...Care-Free Conditioners Australia was pioneered by Bob Uden in 1980. Bob, a plumber by trade, began selling water conditioners to farmers out of the back of his panel van. From these modest beginnings the Care-Free company grew throughout Australia and today exports to several overseas countries.

Compare the Difference

Without Carefree With Carefree

These plants were watered from the same water supply for five months. The only difference being one plant received Care-Free “conditioned” water, the other unconditioned water.

Care-Free Conditioner rids Vegetable Grower of salt water problems “With our salty water we couldn’t afford not to have our Care-Free Conditioner.”

Brad Ipsen Manjimup WA

Brad says “Before we installed the conditioner our 2,800mg/lit salty dam water was causing severe losses to our broccoli crop. In fact during Dec 06 to Jan 07 we had losses of about $80,000 due to the high salty water. Ten days after installation of our 100mm Care-Free Con-ditioner we had a complete turnaround. The results were truly amazing.”

Simple safe and economical» The Care-Free Water Conditioner simply becomes part of your pipeline and so delivers a continuous supply of w a t e r . » Properly maintained it should last you a lifetime. What’s more there are no moving parts to wear out or cartridges to replace.

As the name suggests it is a "water conditioner" not a softener or filter. It will help minimize the adverse affect of many of the undesirable substances in your water supply.

Engineered to overcome water problems to make .......... the difference you can see

Header

Users in W.A. Include •Commercial Vegetable & Fruit Growers •Sporting Venues in WA •School & Shire Ovals, Golf Courses•Hundreds of domestic stock & Garden suppliers

SALINE CALCIUM AFFECTED

BORES SOAKS DAMS…...

IN USE THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA

Contact:Fred Bremner PO Box 90, Beverley Phone 9646 111 Mobile 0429 461 115 Email: [email protected] Website: www.carefre.com.au

Brief History...Care-Free Conditioners Australia was pioneered by Bob Uden in 1980. Bob, a plumber by trade, began selling water conditioners to farmers out of the back of his panel van. From these modest beginnings the Care-Free company grew throughout Australia and today exports to several overseas countries.

Compare the Difference

Without Carefree With Carefree

These plants were watered from the same water supply for five months. The only difference being one plant received Care-Free “conditioned” water, the other unconditioned water.

Care-Free Conditioner rids Vegetable Grower of salt water problems “With our salty water we couldn’t afford not to have our Care-Free Conditioner.”

Brad Ipsen Manjimup WA

Brad says “Before we installed the conditioner our 2,800mg/lit salty dam water was causing severe losses to our broccoli crop. In fact during Dec 06 to Jan 07 we had losses of about $80,000 due to the high salty water. Ten days after installation of our 100mm Care-Free Con-ditioner we had a complete turnaround. The results were truly amazing.”

Simple safe and economical» The Care-Free Water Conditioner simply becomes part of your pipeline and so delivers a continuous supply of water.» Properly maintained it should last you a lifetime. What’s more there are no moving parts to wear out or cartridges to replace.

As the name suggests it is a "water conditioner" not a softener or filter. It will help minimize the adverse affect of many of the undesirable substances in your water supply.

Engineered to overcome water problems to make .......... the difference you can see

Fred Bremner PO Box 90, BeverleyPhone 9646 1115 Mobile 0429 461 115Email: [email protected]: www.carefre.com.au

Bejo Seeds Pty Ltd • 460 Hall Road, Skye, Vic. 3977 • Tel.: (03) 9782 2811 • Fax: (03) 9782 2445 • E-Mail: [email protected] • Website: www.bejo.com.au

Variety is thespice of life...

03) 9782 2445 • E-Mail: [email protected] • Website: www.bejo.com.au

Bejo, a name that stands for quality

If you are looking for something new, or something special, check out our range of reliable and innovative varieties.

For more information, visit our website

www.bejo.com.au

or, in W.A. contact Lloyd Williams 0419 925 592

wa grower june 08

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