Australia
March 15, 2012
The latest edition of industry journal Vegetables Australia has been released today and it highlights a range of exciting innovations in the vegetable industry that are having a direct impact on Australian consumers.
“This specially themed ‘Industry Innovation’ special draws into sharp focus some of the research projects and individuals leading the field in vegetable industry innovation that will eventually flow through to the consumer,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Jeremy Story Carter.
“Key features include in-depth grower profiles and an interview with award-winning Melbourne chef Andrew McConnell explaining the growing trend of restaurants sourcing produce direct from the farm and bringing it to the customer as quickly and as freshly as possible,” Mr Story Carter said.
“In the feature ‘Sourcing Success’, the Melbourne restaurateur spoke about the benefit of sourcing his produce direct from local vegetable growers. The advent of restaurants sourcing local Australian produce directly from the farm, to supply the freshest produce to their customers appears to be an increasing trend within the food services industry.”
“Trevor Courtney, an asparagus grower who supplies Mr McConnell’s restaurants, also spoke to the magazine about how the relationship was mutually beneficial to both the vegetable grower and the food services industry.”
The magazine also features a leading South Australian grower, Brian Meakins, who has brought many supply chain operations onto his own farm.
“Planting, harvesting, packaging and distributing his Newman’s Horseradish product, are all conducted within the confines of his farm in Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Mr Meakins serves as a great example of how innovation can be achieved in small-scale operations and by all reports the consumer reaction has been very positive,” said Mr Story Carter.
Elsewhere, the special edition of Vegetables Australia also highlights the burgeoning career of Bryony Hackett, a NSW grower from Guyra with a big future in the industry.
“I am thrilled to see Ms Hackett’s successes profiled in Vegetables Australia. AUSVEG is committed to supporting and promoting female leaders in the vegetable industry. It is important that as an industry we promote the great opportunities that are available within horticulture for a fulfilling career. Ms Hackett is a great example showing that to be successful in agriculture you don’t have to be a fourth generation farmer,” said Mr Story Carter.
Published by AUSVEG - the national peak industry body representing approximately 7,000 vegetable growers - the 52-page magazine is designed to communicate emerging Research and Development (R&D) findings funded by the National Vegetable Levy with matched funds from the Australian Government.
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