News

Australian laboratory loses international accreditation for sensory testing

Olives Jan. 30, 2019



Australian olive oil growers must look further afield for official Extra Virgin certification if they require it this year. The only tasting panel in Australasia trained in International Olive Council (IOC) procedures which has been used to certify olive oils as extra virgin has not been recognised by the international body in 2019.

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Orchards get sun smart in record heatwave

Pome fruit Jan. 30, 2019



With temperatures soaring well above 40 degrees around Australia, the recent heatwave has once again raised the issue of sun protection for fruit. Options include everything from spray-on sun protection products, to shade netting, to overhead misting and sprinkler systems to bring orchard temperatures down.

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Dix labelling equipment

Packaging & labelling Jan. 29, 2019



Dix Engineering design and build electronic hand labellers and automatic labelling machines capable of labelling a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. These machines are now extensively used throughout Australia and have a solid reputation.

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Scholar has post-harvest covered in tree crops

Mangoes Pome fruit Post harvest Jan. 21, 2019



Australia grows some of the best quality fruit in the world, with $200 million worth of Australian oranges and mandarins sent each year to destinations including Japan, Hong Kong, China and the USA.

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Almond growers prepare for record harvest but more bees needed to keep industry buzzing

Almonds Jan. 21, 2019



Australia's almonds growers are set for a record crop this season but as the industry keeps growing, more pollination services are needed to sustain the rapid production increase.

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Korea gives green light on exports from Northern Tasmania

Cherries Marketing & export Jan. 18, 2019



Korea is the first country to green light exports from Northern Tasmania following the outbreak of Queensland Fruit Fly last year.

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China plans avocado supply

Avocado Jan. 18, 2019



Currently supplied by Latin America, industry insiders say domestic avocados could replace imports in three to five years

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Put the Spotlight on suckers

Citrus Olives Jan. 16, 2019



Orchardists looking for an efficient means of sucker control in tree crops can look to Spotlight Plus for a faster and significantly less expensive alternative than manual desuckering.

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Going nuts: Plans for $14 million almond processing plant

Almonds Jan. 15, 2019



PLANS for a $14 million almond processing plant near Hattah have been lodged with Mildura Rural City Council.

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Growing juice company squeezes more from premium market

Pome fruit Jan. 14, 2019



A juice company that began a decade ago with fruit, dreams and no customers has become a national premium beverage brand and is eyeing export markets. The recent success at Ashton Valley Fresh is being driven by siblings Joyce and Joseph Ceravolo, the fourth generation of Ceravolos to be involved in the fresh fruit industry in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills.

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Lemon shortage and high demand for fresh fruit sends prices skyrocketing

Citrus Jan. 11, 2019



Summertime means seafood and cocktails with fresh lemon for many across Australia, but prices for the fruit have skyrocketed. A shortage of Australian-grown lemons has caused supplies to fall and prices to spike.

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Report reveals fruit and nuts as star performers of Queensland’s agriculture industry

General Jan. 11, 2019



New report reveals that the fruit and nuts sector in Queensland was a star performer during 2017-18.

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Seedless mandarins to hit supermarket shelves

Citrus Jan. 10, 2019



SEEDLESS mandarins could hit supermarket shelves in the next two years. One of Australia’s biggest fresh produce companies, Freshmax, has planted 20ha of Tangold Seedless mandarins at its Swan Hill property, with a further 20ha planned in the next 18 months.

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Orange Juice Vending Machines Have Landed in Sydney

Citrus Jan. 10, 2019



Did you know that almost half of all fruits and vegetables grown in Australia don’t make it off the farm because their skin is blemished or they’re of “imperfect” size? That’s a lot of produce going to waste – produce that could be turned into, say, fresh juice.

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Fruit fly restrictions lifted in Tasmania but markets yet to recognise status

Stone Fruit Fruit Fly Jan. 9, 2019



Tasmania has officially clocked over into fruit fly-free status but Australia's trading partners will not automatically recognise the change.

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