Has your GS1 databar on your printed fruit stickers been verified? Packhouses who use (or plan to use) a GS1 databar need to have their label manufacturer (printer) supply a databar label for testing, to make sure they can be scanned. Once tested, GS1 will provide a GS1 Australia Barcode Verification Report. It is important to send this final report onto any retail customers, to assure them the fruit sticker will scan at point of sale. (Interim verification reports based on the testing of digital files are not accepted by retailers.) Click here for more information and access to the Barcode Check form.
Freshcare transition from FSQ4 to FSQ4.1 Participating Businesses should be transitioning their Freshcare Food Safety & Quality system requirements from Edition 4 (FSQ4) to Edition 4.1 (FSQ4.1) prior to undertaking an audit this year. Read more.
Tristate: cold snap gets frosty reception. 11/6/2020. Growers in South Australia's Riverland have seen temperatures drop to -5 degrees Celsius about 200 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, with the Bureau of Meteorology having recorded the state's coldest temperature at -5.8 degrees Celsius in Gluepot. Read more in MSN.
Victorian ag workforce plan funding. 10/6/2020. The Victorian Government’s Agriculture Workforce Plan includes recruitment support, and financial support for worker relocation and transport, induction, retraining and business adaptation. Visit Working for Victoria. There’s also support for business adaptation (between $10,000-$300,000) to cover up to 50% of costs for COVID-19 required changes. Read more.
Enhancing Australia’s bee pest surveillance. 10/6/2020. Enhancements to the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program have included upgrading catch boxes, investigating better options for Asian honey bee specific catch boxes, and targeted floral sweep netting. Read more.
Still room for global growth. 9/6/2020. Australian-based Monica Bratuti, from Turners International (New Zealand), told the FruitBox podcast that a relative lack of market penetration in some major consumer markets means there’s still room to grow for avocados globally. Find the podcast links in Eurofruit.
Hort Innovation seeking director nominations. 5/6/2020. One (1) Director candidate will be elected to the Board by Voting Members at the Annual General Meeting in November 2020, and two (2) Director candidates will be appointed by the remaining Board members immediately following the AGM. Applications close 6 July. Read more.
WA: water quality funding on south coast. 4/6/2020. The WA Government will provide $7 million over four years to improve water quality in three south coast estuaries, including Torbay. Read more.
Ag encouraged to check JobKeeper eligibility. 3/6/2020. Much to the surprise of many, family farming enterprises are qualifying for the federal government's JobKeeper payment scheme. Late enrolments will still be accepted before 30 June. Read more in Stock Journal and find out more from the ATO about the basic and alternative turnover test here.
Next gen on-board at CQ packhouse. 1/6/2020. “As a parent to think that your child might want to choose to do what you’re doing is just a wonderful feeling; they bring a completely different perspective,” says Annaleise Donovan, Don’s Fort. Read more in Bundaberg Now.
ATO scam alert. 05/2020. The ATO reports scammers are calling random Australians, posing as the tax office and requesting banking details to allow for the processing of JobKeeper payments. If your staff are covered by JobKeeper, please let them know this is a scam. Read more.
Costa group leader standing down. 29/5/2020. Costa Group chief executive Harry Debney is retiring after 10 years at the helm, in a new era of leadership at the fruit and vegetable grower. Read more in inside FMCG.
Rural life not as active as you think. 28/5/2020. Only 52% of rural populations in Australia meet physical activity guidelines, according to a University of Sydney study. Read more from the University of Sydney.
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