The transition period for the new Horticulture Code ended on Sunday. This means the new Code is fully in force and will cover most transactions between growers and traders.
 
Some material is available on the ACCC website which will assist with the transition; below are some of the links that be useful: 

• A fact sheet for growers: How the Horticulture Code helps you
• Answers to questions which have been posed by growers and other stakeholders are in the Horticulture Code FAQs.
• Having a Horticulture Produce Agreement is an integral part of compliance with the Code. To make it as straightforward as possible we have produced sample HPAs, depending on whether growers sell their produce to an agent or a merchant (as defined in the Code):

• Sample Horticulture Produce Agreement - Merchant
• Sample Horticulture Produce Agreement – Agent

• Questions relating to packing houses are some of the most frequently raised with the ACCC: We recently sent out a newsletter on this topic. If you would like to receive future newsletters, with the latest news and events relevant to the horticulture sector, please sign up to our Agriculture Information Network.
• While the Code defines horticulture produce as unprocessed fruit, vegetables (including mushrooms and other edible fungi), nuts, herbs and other edible plants, it does not define ‘unprocessed’. The ACCC’s web page provides some clarification, and an example, about how this is defined.
• One of the parts of the Code which is new (i.e. was not in the previous Code) is the obligation to deal in good faith. Our website provides an explanation, and examples, of good faith.
• Traders have to give growers a regular statement about how they dealt with the grower’s produce. The ACCC website has information outlining what these statements need to tell growers.
• The full range of ACCC information is at: Horticulture code guidance materials

 
Note an online tool is available if you would like to anonymously report an competition or fair trading issue in the agriculture sector.
 
For more information please contact:
Andrew Parnell
Senior Analyst | Agriculture Unit
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
Level 17 | 2 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000 | http://www.accc.gov.au
T: 03 9290 6975 | F: 03 9663 3699

That’s the stark warning from one of Australia’s biggest horticulture players..... Read more 

According to the official website of the Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, the first cargo aircraft with 1,300 kg of Australian fresh peaches on board arrived at Qingdao Airport a few days ago. This special cargo port of Qingdao Airport has been open in January 2018. Since then, the Australian peaches are the 3rd shipment of high-end fruits.  Read more of this Fresh Plaza article.....

While Australian fruit exports have exceed $AU1billion for the first time within a calendar year, fresh vegetable exports have suffered drops in key markets of over 50%.

Hortgro has released its latest stone fruit estimates, a downward adjustment for plums, nectarines and peaches while apricots performed better than was expected a few months ago. Their new estimates reflect lower volumes (smaller fruit) and lower packouts as a result of wind, sleet and hail marks in many cultivars. In general most cultivars’ harvest is about a week later than other years but the brix levels of plums are higher this year.

Plums
Exports on early plum cultivars are 9% down, expected to drop to 13% on the mid and late cultivars, bringing the estimate for the entire season to -12% (estimated at -4% at the start of the season). Wind and hail have played a role in lower packouts, as has sunburn and a decrease in cosmetic appearance of some red and black plums, like Fortune (22% down YTD by week 3, which brings it back to the volumes of two years ago) and Lady Red (32% down YTD week 3). Ruby Sun has bucked the trend with an increase of 45% compared to last year, primarily because of new orchards coming into production, Hortgro says. - Read more of this Fresh Plaza article....

Asoex reports steep increase in cherry and nectarine shipments to China this season.
The surge in Chilean cherry production has fuelled a sharp rise in fruit exports to Asia this season according to the latest figures from Asoex.

Cherry shipments to 16 February were up 93 per cent on last season at 166,692 tonnes, while total fruit exports to Asia rose 38 per cent to 241,511 tonnes.

The volume of nectarines shipped to Asia has also risen sharply following the opening of the Chinese market last year, climbing 37.9 per cent to 14,529 tonnes.  Read more of this  FRUITNET Article.