SEVEN Victorians are among the finalists in the National Awards for Excellence to be presented during this week's AusVeg convention on the Gold Coast.
They are Frank Ruffo, of Bacchus Marsh; Gazzola Farms, Narre Warren South; Ian Porter, Ferntree Gully; Val Murphy, Thorpdale; Andrew Bulmer, Lindenow; Daniel Maher, Ballarat; and Rick Butler, Black Rock.
Up to 500 delegates to the four-day convention will hear from a range of speakers, including former governor-general Major General Michael Jeffery, UK National Farmers Union horticulture and potatoes board chairman Sarah Pettitt and Coles fresh produce general manager Greg Davis.
Golden win for Aussie wines
AUSTRALIAN wines have been awarded 65 gold medals in a swag of 602 medals at the world's most prestigious independent wine competition, the International Wine Challenge.
Among the gold medal winners were nine entries from seven Victorian winemakers.
Buller Wines won gold for its 2008 Black Dog Creek Shiraz and Fine Old Tokay, and Giant Steps-Innocent Bystander won gold for its cabernet blend 2008 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Harry's Monster and 2008 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Other winemakers to taste success were Campbells Wines, Bellvale Wines, Heathcote Winery, McPherson Wines and Sticks Yarra Valley.
The only country to trump Australia's performance was France, with 75 gold medals.
Spud disease concern
POTATO growers across Australia have been urged to keep a look out for a disease which has become established in New Zealand during the past four years.
Zebra chip appears as dark streaks, flecks or spots in potatoes when they are cooked, rendering them useless for the french fry and fresh potato markets.
It is caused by bacteria carried by psyllids, which look like tiny cicadas.
AusVeg technical advisory group chairman Dr Kevin Clayton-Greene urged growers to maintain the highest possible level of farm biosecurity.
"We can't afford to let this pest into the country as the control and management costs would be extremely high," he said.
- 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.
