Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand 2016 March/April | Page 14

MAX FACTS GROWING TIPS, NEWS AND TRIVIA
Glasshouse Revolution in Leafy Greens
Kaiteki Fresh is a new Japanese company growing leafy greens inside glasshouses in Bunyip, Victoria,
using hydroponics. Its goal is to produce 20 harvests per year. Controlled environments, terraced
growing systems, water-saving technologies and zero pesticides are features of the vegetable
production system called Napper Land, the first vegetable growing system of its kind in
Victoria. Japan’s Mitsubishi Plastics Group, known for manufacturing cars, plastics and other
materials, has expanded its interest in manufacturing greenhouse plastics to create plant
factories to grow food. The agriculture venture at Bunyip is the company’s first involvement
in food production in Australia. According to Shoji Yamaguchi, Kaiteki Fresh CEO, quarantine
restrictions preventing export of Japanese agricultural produce to Australia predicated the
company’s move into food production in Australia.
(Source: goodfruitandvegetables.com.au)

More Training for Aussie Exporters
The horticultural export sector in Australia has been given a $1.9 million boost through
the federal Package Assisting Small Exporters program. Federal Agriculture Minister
Barnaby Joyce says access to premium overseas markets is an important element of
driving profits back through the farmgate. “The grants give growers exporting skills,
with a national export-ready training program for the vegetable industry and access
to an advisory service,” he says. “Mango and avocado growers will be able to
develop market access strategies, with avocado growers looking to the lucrative
Asian and Middle East regions. Table grape and citrus growers will get fast,
simple online export accreditation, and cherry and stone fruit growers get help
to reinforce our reputation as a reliable supplier of safe, quality produce.” This
financial support comes on the heels of historic trade agreements, including
those with China, Japan and Korea.
(Source: weeklytimesnow.com.au)

Record Apple Exports Predicted
New Zealand’s apple growers are set to profit from a record $700-million export crop forecast for 2016,
compared with last season’s bumper of $630 million. Alan Pollard, chief executive of Pipfruit New
Zealand, says the industry is expecting to produce 19.5 million export cartons for 2016, which is up
5.5% over last year. “It’s great news for our apple-growing regions, injecting millions directly back
into the local economies of Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Central Otago, Gisborne, Waikato, Wairarapa
and South Canterbury,” he says. “We are seeing increased business for the horticultural service
sector and greater economic activity and development in packhouses, cool storage, transport
logistics and freight.” The industry has moved to a more consolidated, vertically integrated
structure, continued to improve quality standards, advanced changes in orchard design and
best-practice management techniques, and developed new varieties with trademarked intellectual
property and qualities preferred by Asian markets.
(Source: voxy.co.nz)

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Maximum Yield  | March/April 2016