Chinese drinkers warm to Australia's top drops
As sales to some traditional markets such as Britain fall, some of the slack has been taken up by the increasingly prosperous Chinese. Picture:
Bob Barker Source: The Australian

CHINESE drinkers are developing a taste for better-quality Australian wine, with export sales falling by volume but surging in value during the past 12 months.
A report from export body Wine Australia shows exports to China were 46 million litres for the 12 months to the end of September, down 2 per cent from the same period a year earlier.
However, the fall was driven by a 61 per cent fall in sales volumes of bulk white wine, while sales of more expensive bottled red wines soared by 32 per cent. This saw total sales to China rise by 32 per cent to $194 million, making it Australia's fastest growing wine export market.
China imported less than $10m worth of Australian wine in 2004. However, rising incomes and increasingly Western diets have seen sales grow by an  average of more than 50 per cent annually.
But the growth in Chinese sales was not enough to offset declines among  Australia's largest wine export customers, with exports to Britain down 6  per cent to 256 million litres while the US took just 179 million litres,  down 14 per cent.

Potatoes and other high-GI foods may not be dietary villains after all, NZ
study
October 12, 2011, Matt Paish
Potatoes and other foods reportedly high on the Glycemic Index (GI) might  not be the dietary villains that many dieticians claim them to be,  according to a new study by the University of Otago, in New Zealand.
The findings, published today in the American Journal of Clinical  Nutrition, were from Dr Bernard Venn and colleagues from Otagos  Department of Human Nutrition, who studied 30 healthy adults aged between  18 and 50. They found that despite potato being a high-GI value food, a  meal containing potato may not necessarily have a high-GI value.
The Glycemic Index is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood  sugar levels. In the study, the GI values of three meals were tested. The  meals all contained chicken, peas, carrots, kumara and gravy, together  with a starchy staple food varying between potato, white rice or
spaghetti.
The researchers found that the GI value for each meal was not as high as  they anticipated. Based on the GI values of the foods used in a potato  meal, the researchers expected that the meal would have an overall GI  value of 65, which falls within the medium range. However, the meal fell  just within the low range with a GI value of 53.

Rooftop farm for grocers 
US-based Bright Farms has entered into a deal with 10 supermarket chains to build and operate hydroponic greenhouses on their rooftops and supply  the chains with
the required home-grown fruits and vegetables to offer on their shelves.
Supermarkets only need to sign a longterm contract of 10 years, agreeing  to purchase the farm's resulting produce, without paying anything toward  the US$1.5-$2 million required to build one greenhouse. Each one-acre  greenhouse is expected to grow an estimated 500,000 pounds of produce each  year and generate US$1-$1.5 million in revenue per year. The greenhouse  aims to produce fresher fruit and vegetables, ensure produce is not  expensive and reduce carbon footprint. The first of the greenhouses is  expected to open in 2012 (Veginsights September)

Purple mangetout now in stores
After a decade in development, the first purple mangetout Shiraz - has  been formally launched into UK supermarkets, in response to consumer  demand for unique products. Mangetout, which is French for eatal are an  edible pod pea similar to what we known as a snap or snow pea. All these  products are harvested and eaten when immature when the pod is more  palatable. Shiraz has a unique distinctive flavour to match its  distinctive purple colour andcan be eaten raw, as well as used as a  stir-fry vegetable. It was first trialled by Marks & Spencer in single  product bags in July.

Slow progress on official health claims food standard for Australia and  New Zealand, but decisions on the way
October 11, 2011
Amanda Cavanough
Despite some 10 years in the making, Australia and New Zealand still  cannot expect the official food standard for permitted health claims in  relation to food until at least 2012.Speaking at the FoodLegal Symposium Healthy Bodies of Law in Sydney yesterday, Dean Stockwell the General  Manager of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and Chair of its  Standards Development Advisory Committee, admitted the existing prohibitions on health claims were confusing and ambiguous especially with regard to nutrient function and functional food property claims.

He said that FSANZ was required to take its latest proposed redraft of the  new Health Claims Standard 1.2.7 (Proposal P293) to the Australia New  Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council in December 2011 following a prior review by the FSANZ Standards Development Committee and the FSANZ Board.

Providing all goes to plan, industry could be hopeful for the new standard for health claims to be approved by the Ministerial Council in early 2012.  In reply to a question, Mr Stockwell added that no further public  consultation process was to be expected. He said the health claims standard review will have taken note of the Blewett Panels Report Labeling Logic released in January 2011, which highlighted widespread issues with food labelling including misleading health claims.

Spicy foods boost broccolis cancer-fighting benefits, study says
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff
Ever wonder why all those studies on vitamin pills never show that they offer many, if any, health benefits? You can blame it on the synergistic effects of foods -- the notion that our bodies benefit most from a particular vitamin or mineral only when its paired together with other nutrients. In other words, a balanced diet trumps a pill any day of the week.

Eating a combination of certain foods together can maximize health benefits even more as researchers found last week in a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Pairing fresh broccoli with certain
spicy foods can enhance the cancer-preventive actions of plant chemicals found in broccoli.

Certain spices like mustard, horseradish, and wasabi contain an enzyme that the researchers found reacts with certain chemicals in broccoli to raise blood levels of sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting compound. While sulforaphane has cancer-preventive properties in studies performed in
petri dishes, just how much of an impact it has on preventing human cancers remains unknown.
Other foods that will boost broccoli's benefits if they are paired together include radishes, cabbage, arugula, watercress, and Brussels sprouts. Also, Jeffery added, steam broccoli lightly for two to four
minutes to maintain its healthful chemicals rather than stir-frying it until it wilts. (Ausveg weekly update Oct 12)

Kiwifruit disease found in Australia
Biosecurity authorities in Australia have found a less aggressive strain  of the virulent PSA disease that is devastating New Zealand's $1 billion  kiwifruit industry. But officials say it is having "no detectable impact"  in Australia. One in eight of New Zealand's orchards has been affected by  the bacterial disease pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (PSA). PSA is usually spread by airborne spores, but can also be carried by infected plant material, clothing or shoes, animals and orchard equipment. The most
obvious symptoms are brown spots and welts that ooze with reddish orange or white sap. Scientific researchers are working on plant stock that is resistant to the disease, first identified in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty area last November.

PSA is associated with kiwifruit pollen, nursery stock and tissue cultures but studies have shown the fruit is not susceptible to infection.
Biosecurity Australia initiated a pest risk analysis (PRA) after the detection of PSA in New Zealand. A less aggressive strain of this bacterium was detected in Australia," a government spokesman told AAP.
Australia has suspended the import of kiwifruit propagative material until its PRA is finalised. The spokesman said it was possible the strain present in Australia had been around for decades, and there are no plans for limits to the movement of plant stock. "There have been no detectable impacts during that time," the spokesman said. "As a pathogen with no detectable impact, no movement measures can be justified."

Source: ninemsn.com.au Publication date: 10/14/2011

Permanent fruit fly checkpoint mooted
The Victorian Government is considering a permanent checkpoint for motorists on the Sturt Highway to try to halt the flow of fruit fly into the region. Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh last week indicated he would ask Treasury for extra funding again this year to tackle Victoria's fruit fly outbreaks. There were 116 fruit fly outbreaks in Victoria last season and new flies are now being reported at Robinvale. The Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, says the proposal is a partial solution. "What this package
allows us to do is investigate the options for a permanent site east of Euston," he said.

"Now that will be manned on a random basis but permanently located but I think it will be one of the solutions because travellers will know there is a real possibility of being inspected for fruit fly. "This is still at the very early stage, so it needs to be investigated. "The random roadblock program has been proved to be effective. "What we want to do is have a permanent site that can be operated on a random basis to further increase the effectiveness of that roadblock campaign that we have been
running for many years now."
Source: abc.net.au

Kiwi Apples Rejected
ABOUT 30 per cent of New Zealand apples intended for export to Australia have been rejected.
And Australian authorities have detected another apple leaf curling midge since finding the bug in one of the first consignments presented to them when apple imports began.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officials revealed during Senate estimates hearings on Monday that 5000kg of the 17,600kg intended for export had been rejected.
Three major consignments had been refused permission to leave port in New Zealand, two because of apple leaf curling midge and one because of trash. The New Zealand media has accused Australian authorities of "nit-picking". A delegation of Coalition MPs flew to New Zealand on Monday night to
inspect orchards and pack house practices.

WINERIES have been urged to stop buying cheap wine grapes "just because
it's there".
Wine Grape Growers Australia chairman Vic Patrick said the responsibility of addressing the oversupply problem needed to be shared better between growers and wineries.
Mr Patrick called on wineries to negotiate a mutually acceptable variable yield limit of tonnes a hectare for all growers and stop buying what they shouldn't be selling.
"Wineries have been heard to say this cannot be achieved, as intake depends on quality and consumer trends," he said.

"But if it works for the champagne growers in France, why can't some negotiated growing limits be achieved across regions here as well? "Recently, the Champenois upped the permitted yield of grapes for the coming harvest to cope with growing demand for champagne. "The new harvest limit was set at 12,500kg/ha by the region's trade body, the Comit Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, compared with 10,500kg/ha in 2010 and 9700kg/ha in 2009. "Nowhere ... do they suggest these limits affect
the quality of wine."

Writing in the latest edition of WGGA newsletter, The United Grower, Mr Patrick said there was no doubt growers would feel the pain of wineries raising the bar on quality and refusing to accept sub-standard grapes at prices less than the cost of production.
"But as long as wineries continue to take grapes to produce wine made from grapes at unsustainable prices to feed a bulk wine market, the pain for this industry will continue," Mr Patrick said.
"It's an unpalatable truth for many, but wineries can have more control over the wine glut.

Dimethoate products suspended
On 6 October 2011 the APVMA suspended the use of dimethoate on a number of
food crops due to potential dietary risks. The suspension period lasts for
12 months and prohibits:

• use of dimethoate on certain horticultural crops
• use on all food producing plants in the home garden
• supply and possession of dimethoate products unless they carry the new instructions for use.

The suspension follows the release of the 2011 Dimethoate Residues and Dietary Risk Assessment Report (August) which found that its use on many crops could exceed the recommended public health standard (the Acute Reference Dose). A list of suspended uses, alternatives to dimethoate, details of the review process and FAQs about the suspension are available on the AVPMA website.

Asian vegetables jam packed full of healthy folate, research finds 

October 21, 2011
Matt Paish
New research from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has found that several types of Asian vegetables contain folate levels equal to or greater than spinach, making them one of the richest sources of folate known.
The research team, led by scientists at the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) used new technologies to measure the folate levels of ten Asian vegetables including buk choy, choy sum and wombok and compared them to spinach.
RIRDCs Managaging Director Craig Burns said, We know that Asian vegetables are being eaten by a growing number of Australians because they look and taste great, and now we have research confirming another one of their positive health attributes.
Folate deficiency has been implicated in a number of disorders including Alzheimers disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancers, depression, dementia, cleft lip/palate and hearing loss.
Australias National Health and Medical Research Council dietary guidelines recommend a regular intake of folate to meet daily nutritional requirements and the consumption of folate is especially important for pregnant women.
Mr Burns said that in addition to the research having significant health implications, the report will also serve as an important resource for Australias growing Asian food industry.

The domestic Asian food industry has experienced significant growth in the last two decades and is estimated to now contribute approximately A$150 million to the Australian economy each year, Mr Burns said. The research team was led by Avis Houlihan, a Principal Scientist at DEEDI and included world leading food composition researchers from Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services and Mahidol University in Thailand.

Price hikes have lesser impact on demand for staple foods in Australia
October 24, 2011 
Matt Paish
Researchers from the Australian Government's Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) today announced the findings of a study which suggest Australian consumers are more willing to absorb price increases in staple foods such as milk, bread, fruit and vegetables.
The RIRDC study involved a comprehensive analysis of demand elasticities in Australia for 15 food categories. The demand elasticity is the degree to which a products demand or supply reacts to a change in price. The study, conducted for RIRDC by Deakin University, used data from the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Surveys. Researchers found that all meat types, rice, margarine and preserved vegetables had elastic demand, meaning consumers arent as willing to pay an increased price for them.
RIRDC Managing Director, Craig Burns said normally, sales increase with a drop in prices and decrease with a rise in prices. However, elasticity varies among foods because some may be more essential to the consumer. The study also found that when compared to other nations, Australias
inelastic demand for bread, milk and especially fresh vegetables was close to that seen in the USA, Canada and Japan. However, Australian meat demand appeared to be uniformly more elastic than that seen in other countries, meaning people overseas are more likely than Aussies to keep buying a
particular type of meat if its price rises. According to the researchers, this unprecedented research will help those that set research and development priorities, forecast future market conditions and assess proposals for industry or commodity-based levies in their decision making process.

Australian scientist develops GM grape vines
By Annabelle HomerThursday, 27/10/2011
After ten years of laboratory trials, an Adelaide plant scientist has developed genetically modified grape vines that are resistant to mildew. Downy and powdery mildew plagued vineyards across southern Australia last
vintage due to the wet warm summer, with many grapes left to rot on the vine.
CSIRO research scientist Ian Dry says the vines haven't been tested in the field, as the industry isn't keen on GM technology. "What we done is identify two genes from the North American grape vine which confer resistance from these two mildew pathogens," he said. "We've managed to transfer those into a number of winegrape cultivars, including shiraz, and generate transgenic vines.

He says there are many reasons why the wine industry won't currently go down the GM path.
"Australia's wine industry is very much leveraged towards exports, and one thing we have found, particularly with exports into Europe, the European market is very sensitive to the suggestion wines were made from GM vines.
"Until the European market feels more comfortable, I don't see much opportunity for Australian growers to use transgenic vines for exports anyway."

Monsanto Releases New Melon
Monsanto in conjunction with the Bundaberg company BeeMart, is launching a new melon, Bel Oro (beautiful gold) onto the Australian market. This is a bright yellow melon and offers superior eating quality, consistent sweetness and exceptional shelf life. Good Fruit and Vegetables September

Gippsland soil trial directory now available online
The Gippsland soil trial directory collates and assesses data from trials and demonstrations that have investigated changes in soil carbon and pH in response to various management actions. A summary document reports the main findings, explains the science-quality assessment framework and provides guidance on how to conduct a successful soil trial. More? Visit http://www.wgcma.vic.gov.au/publications/regional-menu/262-gippsland-soil-trial-directory.htm
l

U.S. restaurant trend predictions for 2012
November 9, 2011 Matt Paish
U.S. foodservice research and consulting firm Technomic has published a list of trends it predicts will shape the American restaurant industry in 2012. Based on its own market research, Technomic claimed the following developments will be making news in the U.S. restaurant industry in the coming year: Consumers seek a twist on the familiar: Consumers are in no mood to take risks, but novel flavours still tingle their taste buds, according to Technomic. For example, comfort foods with a twist (gourmet, ethnic, artisan, wood-fired) as well as innovation in familiar formats (sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta) are expected to be popular, rather than breakout items taken from less-familiar global cuisines. Commodities costs drive rustic fare made in-house: Technomic predicts that operators will curtail purchases of value-added items in favor of cheaper cuts, beans, grains and produce that require more
back-of-house preparation to transform into honest, home-style food.The next steps in local sourcing: "The rising use of seasonal and local items suits the less-is-more culinary trend," Technomic said. To facilitate flexible purchasing, growers, manufacturers, distributors and operators continue to work toward a more transparent, safe and efficient supply chain, streamlining workflow, recording every step and reducing waste.Social networking influence accelerates: Technomic is highlighting that consumers are increasingly taking control of social media to share
their restaurant experiences and opinions with the public. This will help some restaurants rocket to popularity while leaving others quiet. Customers want more information: Consumers want transparency, seeking disclosure of everything from calories and allergens on menus to local-sourcing practices. A small but growing number are serious about nutrition, labeling, sustainability and community involvement, and they are using such knowledge to make purchasing decisions,Technomic's report said. Operators try to resist discounting by offering freebies: The report
claims the U.S. foodservice industry will continue to operate in a take-share environment, but discounting is cutting to the bone. To counter daily deals and other forms of discounting, operators turn to creative, sometimes in-the-moment, methods to reward their best customers,such as a free dessert out of the blue,the report said.

KPMG article on Country of Origin Labelling
A recent article in KPMG's Viewpoint magazine seeks to explain some of the current issues relating to Country of Origin Labelling laws in Australia. The article also outlines recent political activity in regards to this
issue. AUSVEG has been advocating strongly through the media and in parliamentary circles for improvements in Australia's Country of Origin Labelling laws.
Ausveg weekly update.
http://ausveg.com.au/news/weekly%20update/November%202011/KPMG_CoOL_Article.pdf

Shortage of chemical to fight downy mildew in vineyards
By Lucy Barbour and William Rollo, ABC Rural, Monday, 07/11/2011
Grape growers are reporting widespread shortages of a chemical that fights disease in vineyards.The chemical, Ridomil, is a fungicide that helps prevent downy mildew, which can wipe out crops. Michael Freudenstein, from the Alpine Valley Vignerons Committee in northern Victoria, says it's the smaller growers who could suffer. "Wholesalers have run out and there's none in the country and it's basically been caused larger growers
and big companies buying up chemicals just in case," he said."It happened last year with all the rain.
There was a huge volume of sprays purchased, so they became quite short. It's a supply and demand thing."With a mix of hot and wet weather, powdery mildrew is a continuing concern for wine grape growers who haven't
adequately sprayed against the disease.

Water money woe
Shepparton News 10/11/2011
The Victorian Auditor-General has raised serious concerns about the financial viability of Goulburn-Murray Water and recommended the Essential Services Commission take a fresh look at rural water pricing. G-MW reported a 52.9 million loss for the 2010-11 year, following on from a $62 million loss in 2009-10 although the organisation says its present situation is planned rather than unexpected and new revenue streams are now coming online. 
 

Rob Dimsey | Program Manager Productivity Services, Horticulture Services
Branch
Department of Primary Industries | Farm Services Victoria |P.O. Box 483
Bairnsdale, Vic, 3875
p. 03 5152 0600 | m. 0427 592 006 | f. 03 5152 6865| e.
robert.dimsey@dpi.vic.gov.au