How TikTok is helping sell Tasmanian cherries to Asian customers
Tasmanian cherries are being sold online in hyped buying markets not unlike TV infomercials. ⌘ Read more

Tomato grower defends unauthorised transport of infected seedling
Tomato seedling trade has once again been halted after seedlings were moved from South Australia to Victoria without a plant health certificate. ⌘ Read more

Bananas the best fuel for Australian Open players chewing through 200kg a day
Professional tennis players have access to the world’s most advanced sports drinks and gels to boost their performance, but dietitians say you can’t beat the humble banana. ⌘ Read more

Application to take more water from Perth Hills for bottling has locals up in arms
The City of Kalamunda has received an application to extract 30 million litres of groundwater a year from a Pickering Brook orchard, and nearby residents are worried. ⌘ Read more

Putricia the stinky corpse flower blooms in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens
The flower has been said to smell like rotting flesh, wet socks or hot cat food, and only stinks for 24 hours after blooming. ⌘ Read more

The hidden cost of cheap asparagus as grower leaves crop to rot
Ed Fagan’s family has been growing asparagus in the NSW central west since the 1950s, but he says supermarket prices and a tight labour market have forced him to abandon the crop. ⌘ Read more

Two million sailors died of scurvy until the discovery of a simple cure
The discovery that scurvy, a debilitating illness caused by vitamin C deficiency, could be treated with citrus fruit transformed 19th century naval exploration around the world. ⌘ Read more

Family honours Maroochydore’s last pioneering farmer with fig harvest
Guided by the scribbles in three small notebooks about the orchard, Peter Wise’s family continue to harvest fruit from hundreds of trees. ⌘ Read more

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus detected in Victoria for first time
Authorities work to eradicate the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, which has already had devastating impacts on South Australian growers. ⌘ Read more

Why don’t Australians source more coffee from our region?
Australia is surrounded by coffee-growing countries like Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, but it imports most of its coffee from the other side of the world. With climate change and coffee bean prices skyrocketing, is it time to look closer to home? ⌘ Read more

Flat white price likely to skyrocket this year, no matter where you live
Industry insiders say coffee lovers — even in regional Australia — are unlikely to escape paying more for their flat whites as cafes are forced to push up prices. ⌘ Read more

Dry weather in South Australia hits native plant sales to farms
Native plant suppliers are reporting a downturn in sales to farms for revegetation projects after historically low rainfall in much of the state last year. ⌘ Read more

Why Lunar New Year has driven up fruit prices
Australian fruit producers are gearing up for Lunar New Year. At the centre of these celebrations are North Queensland lychees and Tasmanian cherries, which serve as symbols of prosperity and good fortune in Asian culture. ⌘ Read more

Teacher turned florist proves it’s never too late for a career change
More than a decade of teaching has taught Natalie Brock a thing or two, but her biggest life lesson has been to “do something you love”. ⌘ Read more

Could high coffee prices trigger a boom for Aussie growers?
Bad weather in key coffee producing countries has sent the price of beans soaring but Australian growers say capitalising on gaps in the market will be difficult. ⌘ Read more

Grapes tainted by smoke from bushfire transformed into brandy
Grapes damaged by a devastating bushfire in the Adelaide Hills in late 2019 have been turned into brandy. The research, led by the University of Adelaide, is part of a wider project aiming to help producers navigate the setbacks of climate change. ⌘ Read more

Fed-up farmer quits industry over supermarket price discrepancy
Ross Marsolino has spent more than 40 years feeding Australian families. But the price discrepancies he has faced recently have driven him to leave the industry completely. ⌘ Read more

Months after devastating frost, grape growers are feeling optimistic
Four months after an unseasonable frost event wiped out vineyards across south-eastern parts of the country, growers in SA say they are feeling better than expected. ⌘ Read more

As Australia’s wine workforce ages, young winemakers are trying to make their mark
The wine industry’s peak body hopes it can attract the next generation of growers and producers, but young, first-generation winemakers say nepotism and historical industry connections are barriers to entry. ⌘ Read more

Australian pistachios crack a record harvest
Australia’s pistachio industry has gradually established itself and now with a record harvest, and a new facility, it is looking for new markets overseas. ⌘ Read more

Small-scale farmers feel forgotten as food regulation changes loom
Australia is implementing stricter regulations on leafy greens, melons and berries, which small-scale growers say will cause unbearable production cost increases. ⌘ Read more

After 70 years, Dick and Pixie share recipe for long life on the land
Dick and Pixie von Hofe have just celebrated 70 years of marriage, and say hard work, determination and, of course, love are the key ingredients. ⌘ Read more

The country with the best wine that (almost) nobody gets to taste
Travel by cable car up to alpine vineyards so beautiful Prince wrote a song about them, in a place that keeps the best wines all to itself. ⌘ Read more

Rain-hit cherries ‘explode’ in several states, slashing Christmas supply
The country’s two largest cherry producing states lose a third of their fruit due to heavy rain, which could see prices rise. ⌘ Read more

Court fines fruit grower after picker dies in fall from moving trailer
A 70-year-old Afghan national died after falling from a moving trailer on his second shift at Cutri Fruit in 2022. The company pleaded guilty to failing to mitigate safety risks. ⌘ Read more

Tasmanian tomato grower hoping for better prices in the new year
Tomatoes look great but prices don’t for one Tasmanian grower ⌘ Read more

Grape growers at breaking point plead for mandatory code of conduct
Wine grape growers have spoken at a senate inquiry to plead for a mandatory code of conduct to ensure they get fair prices for their produce. ⌘ Read more

‘There is certainly a glut’: Truss tomato growers call for shoppers to help combat oversupply
The price of truss tomatoes across Australia is expected to stay down in the lead up to Christmas. That might be good thing for shoppers, but some growers say they’re struggling to break even. ⌘ Read more

Residents urged to destroy homegrown produce as fruit fly detected in Perth
Residents in a swathe of suburbs in Perth’s south are urged to remove all fruit and fruiting vegetables from their gardens following the detection of the Queensland fruit fly, which poses a significant threat to the state’s horticultural industries. ⌘ Read more

Australia faces an oversupply of fresh herbs as demand stagnates
It has been a perfect season for herb growers, with production doubling on some farms, but a wholesaler says consumers are increasingly choosing the dried product. ⌘ Read more

Small flower farm with big plans
Former ram paddock now home to lovely flowers ⌘ Read more

Tasmanian flower farm open for the public to pick their own for the first time
Pick your own, it’s a popular activity to do over summer  especially with fruit ⌘ Read more

Hungry flying foxes cost SA cherry growers $4million to save Christmas
Flying foxes are in abundance in South Australia and their hunger for local fruit is now impacting cherry growers, resulting in an expensive solution to save your Christmas celebration. ⌘ Read more

Cafes and suppliers say matcha demand outpacing supply
Matcha’s vibrant colour and health benefits have made it a new fad food, fuelling a surge in demand that is outpacing supply. ⌘ Read more

Flower lovers answer farmers’ call for help after more than 100 fresh bunches rejected by buyer
Lyn Bayfield’s community came to the rescue when a wholesaler refused more than 100 fresh-cut bunches from her farm, a practice an industry body says is common in the “cutthroat” business. ⌘ Read more

From heels to work boots, mango farming is a dream come true for Thai businesswoman
Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew had a successful marketing career in Thailand before she moved to Australia and became one of the NT’s biggest mango growers. ⌘ Read more

Viral TikTok cucumber recipes drive up sales as younger Australians smash a salad
Cucumbers are this year’s unlikely viral sensation on social media, spurring a 30 per cent spike in sales among younger Australians and shortages in places like Iceland. ⌘ Read more

Queensland’s tougher tobacco laws enforced for the first time as stores ordered to close for 72 hours
Authorities have used new closure powers to shut down three Bundaberg retailers suspected of selling illegal “chop chop” tobacco and vapes as the laws are enforced in Queensland for the first time. ⌘ Read more

Untimely rain causing problems for SA stone fruit, wine grape growers
Riverland grape and stone fruit growers are feeling the effects of significant rainfall over the region and are already counting the costs of possible disease outbreak and low-quality fruit. ⌘ Read more

WA cherries in low supply this Christmas
South West growers have experienced unseasonable weather conditions throughout 2024 resulting in drastically reduced yields. ⌘ Read more

Frustrated farmers take Silicon Valley approach to launch world-first $60m startup fund
Frustrated with how long it takes for research ideas to become reality, fruit, vegetable and nut growers invest millions in high-risk startups. ⌘ Read more

Glass of Albarino? This vineyard is turning to new grape varieties that could become the reds and whites of the future
At Mount Majura Vineyard on the edge of Canberra, viticulturalist James Hopper is planting new grape varieties that can better cope with the effects of a changing climate. ⌘ Read more

These volunteers care for Tasmania’s largest rose garden. Here’s their tips and tricks
Nestled within the walls of the world heritage-listed Woolmers Estate sits Tasmania’s largest rose collection. The sprawling 1.5 hectare garden is largely maintained by about a dozen volunteers. ⌘ Read more

Two friends with a love of coffee cross paths with Colombian farmer, changing lives across continents
Mathew Hatcher and Lewis McKenzie started a coffee-roasting business in a small Australian town, motivated less by money and more by the excuse to taste rare and expensive beans. When they met a coffee-growing family from Colombia, the business would transform lives and form a “connection with the heart”. ⌘ Read more

Cherry Queen crowned in Pooraka as first box raises $85k
Bidding started at $50k, but Donna Mecurio was crowned Cherry Queen with a bid of $85k at the SA Produce Market in Pooraka this morning. Money raised goes to the South Australia Brain Research Foundation. ⌘ Read more

Company owned by billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest hopes to expand sweet potato production
Sweet potato producer Harvest Road want to change WA’s reliance on the east coast with an expansion of its Brickhouse Station production in the Gascoyne. ⌘ Read more

Thousands of avocado trees ripped out as growers look for more profitable crops
Push it over. Pile it up. Strike a match. That’s been the fate of thousands of avocado trees as growers destroy entire paddocks in search of more profitable crops. ⌘ Read more

What If Wednesday: What if we cut the tax on tobacco in half?
Every Wednesday, Ali Moore takes a hypothetical question and asks “what if”, taking your calls and talking to experts in the field. ⌘ Read more

Minister in charge of tobacco licensing unable to explain costs of scheme
The Minister in charge of the tobacco licensing scheme has been unable to explain the costings involved in the scheme ⌘ Read more

South Australian fruit growers fight to save their pest-free advantage
Growers in South Australia’s pest-free area are under enormous financial and mental stress as they battle Queensland fruit-fly outbreaks. ⌘ Read more

International retailers fly into WA to learn more about avocados as export demand grows
Last financial year Western Australia produced a record volume of more than 65,000 tonnes of avocados, representing 44 per cent of the total volume grown in Australia. ⌘ Read more

Fast food chains help savvy farmers give supermarket price uncertainty the slip
The Story family know where every lettuce plant they grow is going and what they’ll be paid for it, but it hasn’t always been this way. ⌘ Read more

Robotic dogs helping hazelnut growers battle costly bird attacks
Most hazelnuts consumed in Australia are imported, but in a bid to boost local production growers are testing some creative solutions to stop birds attacking crops. ⌘ Read more

Orange juice price-hike hard on shoppers’ pockets but good news for Aussie farmers
There’s a good reason the price of orange juice has risen and supermarkets are not to blame. ⌘ Read more

Unique church service brings Pacific Island pickers together on outback NT farm
Mitchael Curtis, a former pastor turned mango farmer, believes holding a church service every Sunday night creates a community “connection” for workers. ⌘ Read more

Zest in life: a history of citrus
David Mabberley renowned botanist, educator and author of Citrus a world history reveals insights about our cultural evolution through the orange or lemon and other members of the citrus family. ⌘ Read more

Fruit retailing at $100 per kilo has huge demand but farmers are struggling to grow them
Quandongs fetch high prices but overcoming inconsistent supply remains a challenge to growing a market. ⌘ Read more

Growers defy avocado glut to plant more trees for lucrative foreign markets
While cheap avocado prices might be good news for consumers at the check-out, farmers are battling oversupply but have their sights set on new markets. ⌘ Read more

Mango price slide a “tragedy” for growers
Mango prices are on the slide, which is great for consumers but what about farmers? ⌘ Read more

They’re warty, lumpy and bumpy but these ugly pumpkins are prized for their looks
Ornamental pumpkins, sought after in the US for their weird shapes and unique colours, have exploded in popularity as Halloween decorations. ⌘ Read more

Love early summer grapes? Flush with water, this outback town could be where they were grown
Water, rich soil and early market access are the key ingredients to the success of Menindee’s horticultural industry in Far West New South Wales. ⌘ Read more

Food waste warriors stop tonnes of produce ending up in bins
Fresh produce goes to waste because it’s too small, slightly yellow from sunburn or has tiny spots of leaf rub. ⌘ Read more

For 26 years, Lorna and Brad’s open garden has drawn admirers. Their love story blossomed even earlier
With more than 450 varieties of roses, this couple has created a thriving oasis, which is considered one of the best open gardens in the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan is famous for bubble tea but is now brewing its way to coffee fame
From premium pour-overs crafted with sought-after Taiwanese beans to affordable lattes brewed late into the night, Taiwan has become a true powerhouse for specialty coffee enthusiasts. ⌘ Read more

Farmers race to get chickpeas from Australian paddocks to India as tariff deadline looms
Pressure is mounting to get Australia’s chickpea harvest into India before taxes that could cost exporters more than half their profit kick back in. ⌘ Read more

From $20 to $2.50 a punnet. Why blueberry prices have dropped across Australia
If you’re a blueberry fan, now is the time to stock up. Prices have dropped in supermarkets across Australia as seasonal supply levels peak to astronomical heights. ⌘ Read more

Rent hike at Melbourne wholesale fruit and veg market expected to increase food prices
A rent hike at Melbourne’s biggest wholesale market could leave farmers who do not want to deal with Australia’s big two supermarkets with nowhere to sell their produce. ⌘ Read more

Brand new vineyard for a Tasmanian sparkling wine company
Tasmania’s newest vineyard up and running ⌘ Read more

‘Let it rip’? The multimillion-dollar tomato fight between farmers and government
Tomato growers placed into quarantine after the discovery of the tomato brown rugose virus say authorities should have been better prepared for the arrival of the virus. ⌘ Read more

South Australian wine growers plead for help as frost ‘disaster’ hits 80 per cent of grapes
Farmers in Australia’s largest wine grape growing region are still counting losses from severe frost last month and there is no help on the horizon. ⌘ Read more

‘People shop differently now’: Stall operators fear the future of markets
Business owners say changing consumer habits, rising costs, and an increase in theft are driving many family-run stalls to the brink. ⌘ Read more

Australians are not eating enough vegetables and it’s not just our health that is suffering
ABS figures show only 6.5 per cent of the population meets the daily requirement of five servings of vegetables and the effects are being felt across the economy. ⌘ Read more

Wineries poised to cash in as Chinese buyers return to premium wine regions
In the first visit by Chinese delegates since trade tariffs were lifted in April, West Australian wineries are showcasing their premium wines to big buyers in the hopes of landing lucrative contracts. ⌘ Read more

Tasmania firms as the capital of Pinot Wine in Australia
Tasmania wins the National Pinot Challenge again ⌘ Read more

It’s time to fertilise your spring veggies. Here’s what works best
Spring has sprung and now is the best time to fertilise many food plants. So, what do you need to know and what should you feed your veggie patch or pots? ⌘ Read more

Canned fruit giant SPC agree to merger to solidify Australian manufacturing
Iconic Australian fruit canning company SPC has agreed to merge with the Original Juice Company in a move to shore up their future in a difficult time for manufacturers. ⌘ Read more

Cherry lovers could have access to more festive fruits with new varieties’ better climate tolerance
Growing cherries is “high risk, high reward” but farmers now have access to new varieties better suited to difficult climate conditions. ⌘ Read more

As the fallout from the tomato virus outbreak continues, how could it affect prices at the checkout?
The outbreak has already led some states to impose bans on SA tomatoes and fanned growers’ fears the restrictions could cause more harm than the virus itself. ⌘ Read more

Eyewatering supermarket grape prices expected to drop dramatically as local season approaches
If you have baulked at the price of table grapes at the supermarket lately the good news is they could drop by up to $10/kg when the Australian season brings locally-grown produce to the shelves. ⌘ Read more

Wine grape growers looking to diversify plant agave tequila crops in SA
Some would say South Australia is too cold for the tropical agave plant, but one couple hopes to disprove that theory with the country’s second-ever commercial agave planting. ⌘ Read more

How garden waste from your green bin could help farmers produce better wine
Waste from suburban green bins is being reused as mulch on vineyards in central Victoria. Results have shown more vibrant grape growth and reduced chemical use. ⌘ Read more

Managing Botrytis in the vineyard
Successful first stage of a trial to manage botrytis in the vineyard ⌘ Read more

Paddocks too wet so use a drone to spray
Using drones when the paddocks are too wet ⌘ Read more

Grape growers are reeling from crop losses from frost — but how will the wine be impacted?
Wine grape growers in some of Australia’s largest and most renowned regions say freezing overnight lows have wiped out whole crops — but the lower yields could lead to “more balanced and elegant flavour”. ⌘ Read more

95-year-old keeps garden dream alive as flower festival gets underway after beloved wife’s passing
Les Stephson is not letting his age get in the way of maintaining his “pride and joy” — his garden, where he goes to remember his wife who died a year ago. ⌘ Read more

Grape growers in iconic wine region hit hard by unseasonal frost
Producers in some of Australia’s largest and most iconic wine regions say they have suffered crop losses due to frost, which is expected to continue in the coming week. ⌘ Read more

The bargain-bin item this retired history teacher can’t get enough of
Kevin Farrell needed to find the right tool to open his wine without damaging the cork. It led him to owning a collection of 1,500 corkscrews. ⌘ Read more

Sri Lanka supplies most of Australia’s tea, but its tea industry is now at a crossroad
Sri Lanka’s tea industry grapples with a steep wage hike, but some estate owners embrace new approaches to balance worker welfare and productivity in a bid to save the sector. ⌘ Read more

Better coffee on the cards as researchers crack arabica’s genetic code
Your morning cup of coffee could soon get even better, thanks to scientists who have mapped the genome of the arabica plant. ⌘ Read more

Why flowers blooming all year round may be cause for concern
A native flower farmer has not had her usual winter break from picking this year as unseasonably warm weather brings blooms through the usually quiet months. ⌘ Read more

Mango lovers get ready, Darwin is forecast to produce 2.4 million trays this season
Mango season in the Northern Territory is starting to heat up, with 24,000 trays sent to markets last week and future yields looking good. ⌘ Read more

Record warm temperatures mean cheaper winter veggies but less feed for livestock
Prices for some vegetables are falling because of oversupply, but there are concerns for the livestock industry as Queensland’s soaring temperatures dry pasture and feed. ⌘ Read more

New plant produces giant avocados four times the size of store-bought fruit
A plant bearing a supersized new Australian avocado variety is tipped to be a sell-out, ahead of its first release to retail nurseries and home gardeners. ⌘ Read more

Do you really know where the flowers you buy come from? You might be shocked
A bouquet of flowers is the go-to gift for many special occasions but the world is paying a high price for transporting our out-of-season blooms. ⌘ Read more

Once destined for the tip, these low-grade blueberries are being turned into wine
A food recycling charity has taken blueberries destined for the tip to create a zero-alcohol wine alternative, which is now being served in restaurants and ultimately helping feed more people. ⌘ Read more

Exotic tomato virus detected for first time in Australia
The disease that affects the production of tomato, capsicum and chilli crops has been detected in the major vegetable growing area of the northern Adelaide Plains. ⌘ Read more

Inside the push to boost homegrown coffee in Australia
The Australian coffee industry is aiming to get bigger and better. Whether it can or not hinges on access to prime real estate and importing smaller coffee trees. ⌘ Read more

Why your strawberries are unexpectedly rotting in your fridge
Finding spoiled fruit in your fridge is frustrating but research is underway to make strawberries last longer. ⌘ Read more

Olive trees bring new hope to wine grape growers facing another year of low prices
With some grape growers facing another year of prices below the cost of production, some grape growers are taking advantage of the global demand for olive oil. ⌘ Read more

Gold ring found in cabbage could be from ‘anywhere in the world’
A gold ring found in a cabbage plant by a West Australian farmer has been traced back to the Netherlands, but its true owner and origin remain a mystery. ⌘ Read more