RESEARCH has found 38 per cent of Australian fruit and vegetable growers do not use a computer and 40 per cent do not use the internet.
Food Chain Intelligence consultant Dr Silvia Estrada-Flores said she was struck by the low uptake of information and communication technology in agricultural enterprises, despite good retail sales of computers.
She suggested this was because growers could not always see a cost-benefit in using the technology, despite the availability of about 650 farm software programs.
Training was needed to expand computer and internet use from basic tasks, she said.
Cherry awards
THE Victorian cherry industry dished out three awards at its recent annual dinner at Ringwood.
Certificates of achievement were presented to Warrandyte orchardist Bill Aumann, from Graham's FacTree Nursery, and Geoff Payne, founder of GP Graders, who was honoured for his outstanding service to the cherry industry over a lifetime.
The inaugural Victorian cherry retailer of the year award was won by Colin and Dean Signorelli, whose Balwyn North shop, Signorelli's for a Healthy Start, was one of 11 stores nominated by growers and wholesalers and inspected during the cherry season by an anonymous, independent assessor.
We're canker-free
THE European Union has recognised mainland Australia as free from citrus canker, removing the need for exports from Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia to undergo costly disinfectant treatment.
NSW, Victoria and South Australia were already recognised by the EU as disease-free areas.
Citrus Australia chief executive officer Judith Damiani said it was welcome news for the $190 million industry to be finally recognised globally as canker-free.
AUSVEG awards
NOMINATIONS are open for this year's National Awards for Excellence to be presented at the inaugural AUSVEG National Convention at the Gold Coast, in Queensland, in May.
Award categories are: grower of the year; researcher of the year; industry recognition award; productivity partner award; industry impact award; young grower of the year; innovative marketing award; and women in horticulture award.
Nominations close on April 24. For details, phone (03) 9544 8098.
- Send your horticulture news to Sandra Godwin, The Weekly Times, PO Box 1728, Swan Hill 3585, email godwins@theweeklytimes.com.au or fax to (03) 5032 9352.
