ABOUT a third of shoppers who visit the three major supermarket chains, Woolworths, Coles and IGA, also buy fruit and vegetables from a greengrocer or fruiterer.
"This expenditure is constantly targeted by the supermarkets," last week's VegInsights newsletter said.
"However, in recent years they have been unable to make significant inroads, which indicates that consumers are willing to trade off convenience for what they find at the greengrocer/fruiterer."
Victorians in the running
AT LEAST two Victorians are nominess in the AusVeg National Awards for Excellence.
They include Val Murphy of Thorpdale and Department of Primary Industries research scientist Dr Ian Porter.
The winners will be announced as part of the inaugural AusVeg convention at the Gold Coast on May 27-30.
The awards dinner will, for the first time, include a Women in Horticulture Award.
For more details or to register for the event, phone AusVeg on (03) 9544 8098.
Hail net may catch on
A NEW net designed to catch hail and let the stones slip through a channel into rows between trees was launched at the National Low Chill Stonefruit Conference.
Developed over three years by Mark Donnelly, of VP Structures, the polyurethane net will not tear or collapse under a build-up of hail. It can be retrofitted to existing net supports and also protects against damage from birds, bats, insects, sun and wind.
The conference was attended by about 150 growers from five states.
- 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.
