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Guacamole 24 July 2020 |
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COVID-19: what’s new
- Seasonal workers currently do not have an exemption from the self-isolation period if they cross from Victoria to New South Wales, read more in The Land. More border facts here.
- NSW has announced a new border zone for restrictions with Victoria. Click here for the maps.
- Confused about Victoria’s mask requirements? FAQs here and even more here, including when and where you need to wear one. If you live in or are travelling into the Victorian lockdown zone (metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire) you should wear a mask if you leave your home. This includes freight drivers.
- The Victorian Government is providing a one-off $1,500 to eligible workers who have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine. Click here for more.
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COVID-19: labour needs
There are serious concerns about the future availability of harvest labour as the pandemic continues. As an industry we have very little hard data on our seasonal workforce. Hort Innovation is collaborating with EY to understand the horticultural seasonal workforce. Because this work includes estimating foundational seasonal labour workforce demands, identifying any potential gaps because of COVID-19, all growers should fill out the survey. This survey should be a high priority for all growers! The results of this work will be used as the entire horticultural sector works to ensure growers have access to the workforce it needs, when it’s needed.
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COVID-19: South Australian concerns
Avocado farmers in South Australia fear they might have to delay their harvest due to coronavirus restrictions and trade disruptions, as interstate produce continues to fill supermarket shelves across the country.
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COVID-19: avocados to Singapore
The Avolution last week utilised an Australian Government supported freight flight to dispatch avocados from South and Central Queensland to Singapore. Sunnyspot Packhouse’s Daryl Boardman said it was important to maintain international markets.
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CNSW expecting bumper harvest
Five months ago it was still a howling drought, but NSW avocado growers are now on track to have the best harvest ever. The forecast harvest for NSW is 1.6 million trays, up from 1.1m trays last year.
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CQ: Rockhampton growers wrap up season
Rockhampton region growers from Groves Grown Tropical Fruit and MMM Mangoes & Avocados told WIN News Central Queensland they were currently benefiting from the fact Australians love avocado. They even had a chance to talk up their favourite way to #smashanavocadoathome.
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Avocado purchase volumes up slightly
The latest Harvest to Home insights have been released for the 52 weeks ending 14 June 2020. It demonstrates in the latest 52 weeks, avocados were rising slightly, at 2.3% in terms of dollars ($) and increasing quickly, at 8.7% in terms of volume (kg). The percentage of buying households fell slightly from 77% to 76%. The average spend ($) rose slightly, from $59.69 to $60.50. The average weight purchased (kg) rose from 8.4kg to 9kg.
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Check your temperatures
As part of project AV18000, the third video in the five-part series looks at departure temperatures at packshed in comparison to recommended in the Avocados Australia Best Practice Resource. The project has found 75% of pack sheds examined are outside of recommended best practice minimum and maximum temperatures at departure from pack sheds. The study highlights that transport can hold temperatures but cannot cool fruit. Therefore, if fruit departs the pack shed warm, it stays warm throughout the supply chain. Due to short supply chains and good fruit quality, there was no observable link between supply chain temperatures and riper fruit quality. Temperature management is likely to be important if the fruit is destined for longer supply chains or if pre-harvest quality has been compromised. The BPR is our free online one-stop-shop to support best practice throughout the Australian avocado supply chains. We encourage all of our stakeholders to register and access this vital resource.
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Updating the crop cycle calendars
Growers interested in learning more about how their trees grow through the season are invited to contact Simon Newett to discuss what is involved, and how in the process they can also help to update the industry’s crop cycle calendars. (The current calendars can be found in the BPR.) Growers (and advisors) who would like to participate will receive a recording sheet and instructions to collect the observations necessary to create growth cycle(s) for their farm and varieties. Contact: simon.newett@daf.qld.gov.au.
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International expert for NQ forum
RSVPs due today! The online North Queensland Avocado Regional Forum will be held via webinar on Wednesday, 29 July, at 9am (AEST). The main topics are irrigation, nutrition and PGRs, presented by international researcher and speaker, Dr Francisco Mena Volker, from GAMA Ltda, Chile. RSVP by Friday, 24 July to Amanda on admin2@avocado.org.au or call 07 3846 6566 to reserve your spot.
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Coles opens $43m ripening facility. 23/7/2020. Coles has just opened a new $43 million-dollar banana ripening facility in Melbourne that uses new ‘tarpless’ ripening technology – a first for Australia. The brand-new facility in Melbourne’s west was built as part of a five-year agreement between Coles and growers collective Mackays Marketing and has the capacity to ripen 350 million pieces of fruit every year.Read more in MHD.
Precision to optimise avocado yields. 22/7/2020. The wide and shallow root zone of avocado trees, and sensitivity to overwatering, means precision irrigation can therefore play a critical role in reducing plant stress, says Netafim. Read more in Eurofruit.
Women in horticulture scholarships. 21/7/2020. Funding grants of up to $10,941 per person are currently available to women who work in the horticulture sector to support their participation in a leadership development program. The grants have been allocated as part of a joint funding arrangement between Hort Innovation and Women & Leadership Australia, and provide access to one of three part-time practical courses. Register your interest before 2 October, click here.
Renewed funding for plant biosecurity research. 17/7/2020. Hort Innovation welcomes the announcement funding for the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative program has been renewed for a further three years, to coordinate and support plant biosecurity research in Australia. The partnership includes Australia’s seven plant Research and Development Corporations, Plant Health Australia and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Read more.
Assessing water use in real time. 16/7/2020. A new study in Western Australia’s South West is aiming to calculate the economic returns for every megalitre of water used for irrigation in horticulture. Read more in Farm Weekly.
WA extends fruit fly quarantine area. 10/7/2020. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is ramping up its program to eradicate the serious agricultural pest Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) from Perth’s western suburbs. Read more.
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AvoLast hits the market. 20/7/2020 Mission Produce and Hazel Technologies have unveiled a new post-harvest solution that extends the shelf life of avocados. Read more in Asiafruit.
China and Chile sign fresh fruit MOU. 20/7/2020. Trade organisations from Chile and China have agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries’ fresh fruit industries. Read more in Asiafruit.
Peru avocado shipments up 7%. 10/7/2020. A 7.1% increase in avocado shipments worth US$328 million, has contributed to a new record for fruit shipments from Peru. Read more in Eurofruit.
Colombian avocados land in China. 10/7/2020. The much-anticipated first shipping container of Colombian avocados arrived in Shanghai port on 8 July, 2020. The avocados passed through quarantine and inspection before they were transported to the Mr. Avocado Ripening Center. Read more in FreshPlaza.
New Zealand avocado returns high. 8/7/2020. New Zealand avocado industry returns for the 2019-20 season will again exceed $150m, according to the country’s peak industry body. Read more in FreshPlaza.
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Register for the 2020/21 Japan season The Australian Government has opened applications for farms and packhouses for the export of avocados to Japan in the 2020/21 season, and Avocados Australia has prepared a step-by-step guide for growers and packhouses. Farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to Japan must submit the application form by 5pm AEST, Monday 3 August 2020. Late submissions will not be accepted. Click here for more information, including how to access the form.
Want regular export news? Sign up for Export Coordinator Joy Tang’s regular email updates on avocado export related news and grants. Email your contact details to export@avocado.org.au to be subscribed. (Note, you must be a participant in the Australian avocado industry to subscribe.)
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Have news to share?
Have you recently read a story of interest to your fellow avocado industry members? Email our Communications Manager. Please note, suggested content will be selected for use based on our editorial standards.
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International expert for NQ forum
The online North Queensland Avocado Regional Forum will be held via webinar on Wednesday, 29 July, at 9am (AEST). The main topics are irrigation, nutrition and PGRs, presented by international researcher and speaker, Dr Francisco Mena Volker, from GAMA Ltda, Chile. RSVP today to Amanda on admin2@avocado.org.au or call 07 3846 6566 to reserve your spot. Full details here.
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Webinar: avocado pollination in WA
Avocado growers are invited to attend a free webinar on avocado pollination that is taking place on Wednesday, 12 August. The webinar is being hosted by South West Catchments Council (SWCC) and will detail the projects SWCC and its partners are currently undertaking. Speakers include Dr David Cook (managing flies for crop pollination, PH16002), Wendy Wilkins (pollination and farm resilience), and Mike Christensen (identifying key pollinators). Click here for the flyer; registration is essential, please email wendy.wilkins@swccnrm.org.au or phone 0448 939 307.
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Guacamole has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
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