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Guacamole 15 September 2017 |
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Welcome to the latest edition of Guacamole. Get all the latest avocado industry news at your fingertips every fortnight! |
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Avocados Australia at Asia Fruit Logistica
North Queensland avocado farmer Andrew Serra and Avocados Australia’s CEO John Tyas, were in Hong Kong last week for Asia Fruit Logistica, promoting avocados as part of Hort Innovation’s major Taste Australia stand. “The Taste Australia area really stood out among the 43 exhibiting nations, strongly branding Australian horticultural produce,” Mr Tyas said.
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Australia keen to feed China’s avocado demand
Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas told SBS World News the Chinese market was just one possible export destination for premium Australian fruit. “Australian production is predicted to reach 100,000t by 2025 and it’s important that we develop additional markets over and above domestic demand.”
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Victorian students' avo experience
Students from Robinvale College in the Tristate area went full avocado this week! On Tuesday, Year three and four students (pictured) visited Macca’s Farm on Tobruc Road, Robinvale. Year 11 VET Business Unit students are teaching the P-4 campus about avocados with the assistance of Avocados Australia, along with Barry and Jess Avery. They held a successful expo yesterday.
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Blackbutt Avocado Festival features Alvin
Thousands from across Queensland’s Burnett region were in Blackbutt on Saturday, celebrating all things avocado. While we normally encourage the careful treatment of avocado, the festival draws a crowd not just for the food, art and craft but also avocado tossing, rolling and juggling.
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Marketing our Australian avocados
Australian Avocados were the focus of a segment on Studio 10 on Monday, 11 September. Celebrity chef Damian Heads cooked up three delicious recipes: avocado smoothie, avocado salsa with steak, and avocado brownies. See the latest marketing activity that’s helping Aussie consumers connect with (and eat!) Australian Avocados.
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Name change for peak horticultural export body
The Australian Horticultural Exporter’s Association (AHEA) has changed its name to reflect the true nature of the organization. In a release, the group said it had changed its name to Australian Horticultural Exporters’ and Importers’ Association (AHEIA) to better reflect its bilateral focus, with a rebranding to be rolled out over the coming weeks.
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Latest Hortlink available now
Don’t miss the latest edition of Hort Innovation’s Hortlink, which provides an update on all new, current and recently completed levy-funded activity in each levy industry. Also look out for new the 'ACT NOW' tags to easily identify project resources and information you can make use of straight away.
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Have you listed in the new Avocado Directory?
Avocados Australia is now welcoming listing applications from industry stakeholders for the new Avocado Directory. The directory allows easy access to all sorts of businesses that play a role in the avocado industry. Whether you are a buyer or seller of products or services, this directory can help you.
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Latest study group materials in the Library!
The latest content within the Best Practice Resource (BPR) section of the Avocados Australia website is a host of materials from recent Avocado Study Group Workshops. 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. If you are already registered, log into the BPR and click on “What’s new on the BPR” on the welcome page. You can log in (or request access!) via www.avocado.org.au/best-practice-resource/.
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New instructional material for export horticulture inspections. This week, the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources released updates to the Plant Export Operations Manual (PEOM), including new instructional material for the export inspection of horticulture.
Growing Queensland food grants round opens. The Growing Queensland's Food Exports pilot program encourages sustainable economic development in regional communities by supporting food producers to build export capability. The program provides matched funding of up to $100,000.
Comboyne Spring Spectacular's avocado feature. 11/09/17. The popular Comboyne Spring Spectacular's produce focus this year is the avocado, thanks to enthusiastic support from local growers. The event will be held on Sunday, 24 September at the town's showground.
New fixed wireless broadband sites announced. 08/09/17 Eighteen new fixed wireless sites were switched on in August, including Mangrove Mountain (NSW), Trentham Cliffs (VIC), Churchable (QLD) and Nannup (WA). |
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New Zealand production “bulge” within five years. 11/09/17. Increased plantings in the past year could lead to a “good bulge” of crops in four to five years, according to one New Zealand export manager.
Record prices for avocado in the US. 08/09/17. Poor avocado harvests are causing prices to sky rocket in the US. Wholesale prices increased 75 percent since mid-July to around $80 for a case and there are fears of further increases when NAFTA is renegotiated.
Concerns about US push Mexico toward China. 07/09/17. The idea behind Mexico's current diversification efforts, including China, is that in the event that the United States backs out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Plan B is already in place.
Peru plans to send super foods to China. 07/09/17. One of the world's leading agricultural exporters, Peru is expecting to sell more fruits and vegetables to the Chinese market, including avocados, grapes, cranberries, citrus, mango, pomegranate and asparagus.
Nutrition from avocado helps brain network organisation. 07/09/17. A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that monounsaturated fatty acids – a class of nutrients found in olive oils, nuts and avocados – are linked to general intelligence. |
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Avocado Study Group Workshops
All growers! Come along to an avocado study group workshop hosted by Simon Newett, QDAF, for access to knowledge that will lead to more consistent high yields of good-quality avocados.
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Health, safety and people management skills workshops
Queensland’s agricultural industries are working together to help farm businesses reduce risks and increase efficiency and compliance through a series of one-day workshops across the state. The Workplace Essentials workshops, funded by the Queensland Government and coordinated through the Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN), will focus on providing farm employers and team leaders with practical information and resources to enhance workplace health and safety and people management skills. 2017 events are scheduled for: Gayndah (26 Sept), Bundaberg (27 Sept), Mareeba (17 Oct), South Johnstone (18 Oct), Rockhampton (24 Oct), Gympie (2 Nov), Caboolture (14 Nov) and Logan (22 Nov). In 2018, there will be events at Mackay (6 Feb) and Bowen (7 Feb).
Click here for more information and to register online. |
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Calendar
26 Sept – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Gayndah, Qld 27 Sept – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Bundaberg, Qld 29 Sept – Soil Care Inc organic matter & soil health workshop, Southern Cross University, NSW 12 Oct – North Qld Study Group 17 Oct – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Mareeba, Qld 18 Oct – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, South Johnstone, Qld 24 Oct – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Rockhampton, Qld 2 Nov – CNSW Study Group 2 Nov – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Gympe, Qld 14 Nov – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Caboolture, Qld 22 Nov – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Logan, Qld 16 Nov – CQ Study Group 30 Nov – South Qld Study Group
2018 6 Feb – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Mareeba, Qld 7 Feb – QAWN Workplace Essentials workshop, Bowen, Qld 18-20 June – Hort Connections 2018 5-7 Sept – Asia Fruit Logistica
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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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