South Australian farmers whose fruit crops were damaged by heavy storms are getting a $500,000 lifeline from the SA government to help salvage their damaged harvest.

Hailstones caused significant damage to 95 per cent of apples and pears in the Adelaide Hills region in October and Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell says the money will go towards juicing equipment so damaged fruit does not go to waste.

"Without assistance, it could have been an absolutely devastating harvest next March and the flow on effects would have been really damaging to the scores of growers," Mr Bignell said.  Read more of this article.....

 

Media Release

Fruitful trade meeting with China

​9 November 2017​

• Australia and China agreed to protocols providing market access for the first time for Aussie peaches, plums and apricots and improved access for cherries, table grapes, and citrus.
• Protocols were signed at a High-level Dialogue between Australian and Chinese officials in Sydney today.​

Australian horticulture producers and exporters received a boost today, with Australia and China agreeing to new market access protocols for peaches, plums and apricots and improved access for Australian cherries, table grapes and citrus.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Luke Hartsuyker, said the new agreements will deliver practical and commercially viable export opportunities for Australia's summerfruit producers and exporters.

"Opening and improving agricultural market access is a priority for the Coalition Government, as exports underpin the profitability of our agriculture sector and support valuable farmgate returns," Minister Hartsuyker said.

"These agreements with China will support new and improved market access for a range of valuable and important Australian horticulture commodities and will complement the access already achieved for Australian nectarines.

"It means Australian peaches, plums and apricots will soon be joining Australian nectarines on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets and greengrocers, just in time for the upcoming export season, and as a result of tariff cuts under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement—Australia's horticultural exports will be even more competitive."

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said China is one of Australia's most important trading partners and this is welcome news for our $9 billion horticulture industry as a whole.

THE  Australian horticulture industry wants employers who exploit backpackers to be stripped of their rights to access foreign workers.

Nine horticulture industry peak bodies urged revoking the rights of some employers in a recent submission to the Department of Immigration inquiry into work visas.

It comes after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s announcement in April that scrapped the 457 visa for skilled migrants, and subsequently the Government announced it planned to reduce number of visa classes from 99 to about 10.  Read more of this Weekly Times article......

THE nectarine harvest is looming and Australian growers have been encouraged by research indicating there is a market in China for both white and yellow flesh varieties.

Until recently, China-based importers had instructed exporters of Australian grown nectarines there was demand only for low acid white flesh nectarines.

Read more of this Weekly Times article........

Southern fruit growers seem to have been spared the fallout from the long-running backpacker tax saga as statistics show working holidaymakers are still hitting Australian shores.

Australia's horticulture industry was last year left outraged as working holidaymakers faced the prospect of being taxed 32.5 per cent, with the rate eventually reduced to 15 per cent following months of debate.  Read more of this ABC article...

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