Saturday Gardening 27 May
Gardening guru Graham ‘Willow’ Williams answers your questions from 8.30am — 10am every Saturday on ABC Radio Canberra Saturday Breakfast. ⌘ Read more

World-beating winemaker’s ‘classic style’ puts region on global stage
A Coonawarra winemaker says while the recognition is nice, his product’s job is “just to be delicious” rather than win awards. ⌘ Read more

Tasmanian poppy farmers receive an increase in pay and hectares grown
Tasmania’s poppy processors have released details of their contracts for the coming season. ⌘ Read more

Producing and harvesting wine grapes means everything to me
Riley is from Irymple, Victoria, Latji Latji Country. ⌘ Read more

Fewer tea drinkers, rising costs force nation’s largest producer to put farm into ‘hibernation’
Demand for black tea on supermarket shelves is dropping each year, and a major producer is now shuttering its plantation. ⌘ Read more

GM banana could save $20b industry from devastating fungus, researcher says
Australian researchers have developed the world’s first genetically modified (GM) banana, but don’t expect it in a fruit bowl near you anytime soon. ⌘ Read more

What’s the most popular drink in the world after water? Hint: It’s not alcohol or coffee.
This is the story behind the drink that started wars and shaped the modern world. ⌘ Read more

Victorian flower farmer invents award-winning app encouraging people to buy local
In a bid to encourage Australians to buy locally grown flowers, a young entrepreneur in western Victoria designs a digital marketplace to connect producers with the local market. ⌘ Read more

$250k loans for farmers after devastating hailstorms too small, advocate says
Fruit growers in regional Victoria are being offered concessional loans to recover after hailstorms destroyed crops, but industry advocates say it will only touch the surface for medium and large-scale producers. ⌘ Read more

Custard apple growers marketing to next generation
Once common in backyards and suburban streets, the super-sweet fruit has almost disappeared from the landscape — but growers are hoping to change that. ⌘ Read more

Hectic time for chrysanthemum growers as harvesting for Mother’s Day ramps up
Tasmanian chrysanthemum grower Vaughn Kemsley is working around the clock to deliver flowers for mums. ⌘ Read more

Fruit and veg is driving northern Australia’s largest rural population to grow even bigger
Tucked into the lush highlands west of Cairns is northern Australia’s largest rural population, and it’s booming again with agriculture seemly the primary catalyst. ⌘ Read more

HelloFresh apologises to farmers market over false claims
HelloFresh sales representatives told customers their kits contained fresh produce from Bunbury Farmers Market. ⌘ Read more

Fiji is a tropical fruit paradise for tourists while locals lack nutrition — but protected cropping could help
Many people think of Fiji as a wonderland of tropical fruit and vegetable — but in reality, premium produce on offer at resorts comes from Australia and New Zealand, while many locals suffer from a lack of wholesome food. ⌘ Read more

Macadamia growers face financial disaster as glut drives prices down
The majority of Australian macadamia processors will pay their suppliers some of the lowest prices on record, with concerns they could drop further. ⌘ Read more

Why these grape growers are fermenting their wines to music
In Australia’s largest wine-producing region, wine growers like Andrew Duncan do things differently. But does it produce a better bottle? ⌘ Read more

Grower happy to take the shine off gassed mandarins, but needs supermarkets to get onboard
Citrus growers are trying to popularise mandarins with green tinges, but say shoppers have come to expect a perfect glossy orange colour created by gas treatments. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s largest kiwi grower invests millions in little known fruit
While they’re a mystery to many, jujubes have been around for thousands of years and are a common part of diets and traditional medicine in many Asian cultures. ⌘ Read more

Love a juicy mandarin? This season has the goods
Consumers can expect high quality mandarins in supermarkets thanks to a booming citrus season in Australia’s unofficial mandarin capital. ⌘ Read more

Eat our native nut and help growers survive a global macadamia glut
Macadamias, and products with chocolate, confectionary, in health foods and cooking oils, will be cheaper as a global glut caused by lockdowns and increased plantings send farmgate prices tumbling. ⌘ Read more

At an average of $6 each, soaring pineapple prices are here to stay
Pineapples are selling for record high prices and those in the industry say consumers need to get used to paying more for the Australian-grown product. ⌘ Read more

Katharine quit a career in opera to grow heirloom seeds — and she has no regrets
A tiny farm in rural Tasmania is a long way from the jet-setting lifestyle of an international opera singer and a business executive. But it’s where Katharine Tier and her partner have ended up. ⌘ Read more

Grape growers harvesting vintage directly back onto the ground after difficult year
Australia’s wine industry is limping to the end of one of its most difficult vintages, with widespread disease dramatically cutting yields and a glut of red wine leaving many growers unable to find buyers. ⌘ Read more

Country of origin labelling for Australian-grown flowers will set them apart from imports
Next time you buy flowers, check the rubber band holding the bunch together. Green and gold elastic bands will signify the blooms are locally grown. ⌘ Read more

Climate change pushes emerging Tasmanian wine region into spotlight
Step aside Yarra Valley and Coonawarra, Tassie’s traditional dairy and potato heartland is muscling in on the wine scene — with a little help from climate change. ⌘ Read more

Riverland families selling off land and diversifying after generations of growing winegrapes
Vineyard owners in South Australia’s Riverland are hitting the market as the wine industry feels the crush of a difficult vintage and China’s tariffs on red wine. ⌘ Read more

Queensland farmer helps boost budding Samoan dragon fruit industry
A Samoan farmer has turned to a Rockhampton dragon fruit producer for rare expert knowledge in growing the “beautiful” variety that can fetch up to $10 a piece. ⌘ Read more

New Kissabel apple with its red-hued flesh enters Australian market
Ten years in the making, the Insta-worthy Kissabel apple is a cross between a crabapple and a traditional eating apple. ⌘ Read more

Saturday Gardening 22 April
Saturday Gardening 22 April ⌘ Read more

How the battle for prosecco is heating up for Australian wine producers
An effort by the European Union to restrict the use of the name prosecco has been labelled as the “dodgiest claim” to a geographical indicator. ⌘ Read more

Consumers could pay more for strawberries as half a million young plants die mysteriously
Strawberry farmers count the cost of losing half a million young strawberry plants soon after they were purchased and planted. ⌘ Read more

Cooler season puts Gippsland winemakers ‘under pressure’ despite overall warming trend
A Victorian winery owner says cooler weather has delayed harvest and exposed grapes to more risks but, until this season, the conditions had been growing noticeably hotter. ⌘ Read more

Historic family winery signs up all of its grape growers to sustainability program
Grape growers contracted by Australia’s oldest family owned winery have found signing up to a sustainability program has had financial, environmental and emotional benefits. ⌘ Read more

Mum whose love of ‘colour was her signature’ remembered with unique flower
Sisters of woman lost to brain cancer have honoured their sibling by naming a dahlia variety after her, with the flower’s grower saying the family is among 70 who have used his varieties as tributes. ⌘ Read more

They’re hard to wash and extremely easy to break, but could these clay pots be the secret to making top-quality wine?
People have been making wine this way for at least 8,000 years in Europe, and a Tasmanian vineyard is now giving it a shot. ⌘ Read more

Riverland fruit grower crushing it as he keeps up family tradition
For some in the Greek community, making must is a tradition associated with Orthodox Easter. When Yianni Koutouzis  saw he had too many grapes, he knew what he had to do. ⌘ Read more

Dr Nigel Gray was determined to fight tobacco ads. Years later, his efforts are still paying off
The powerful anti-tobacco ads that shifted public opinion in Australia are featured in a new exhibition at Melbourne’s ACMI museum. ⌘ Read more

Australian wine growers hearing ‘positive noise’ from China as rumours of end to trade freeze swirl
A wine grower from Victoria says she’s been contacted by Chinese importers over the past three months who are confident the two countries’ wine trade will soon resume. ⌘ Read more

Poor cousin of the Hass: Why the humble Shepard avocado is so overlooked
Every avocado season a battle arises between Australia’s two most popular varieties — Hass and Shepard. The Hass always prevails … but why? ⌘ Read more

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security patching  going on ⌘ Read more

Embracing local manufacturing has helped boost the fortunes of Australia’s dried fruit producers
Dried fruit growers can now order a specialised harvester, but it hasn’t always been the case. ⌘ Read more

$20 million tobacco crop ploughed into the ground after raid
A joint investigation between police and the tax office has led to the destruction of an illegal tobacco plantation which was found near Parkes. ⌘ Read more

Changes restricting international students’ working hours have farmers worried as workforce crisis continues
Workforce uncertainty in the face of the cap has left farmers grappling to secure farm hands, with one Tasmanian strawberry farmer halting a $10 million expansion plan. ⌘ Read more

Could the Big Orange be about to make a big comeback?
One of Australia’s iconic “big things” looks set to be revived as a tourist attraction after sitting dormant in South Australia’s Riverland region for almost 20 years. ⌘ Read more

How being crowned a ‘queen’ helped propel these women into the agriculture spotlight
Like many farming areas, women’s roles in the apple orchards of Donnybrook went relatively unrecognised in the 1950s. But the region’s Apple Queen competition helped to change that. ⌘ Read more

Grower calls for compulsory fruit fly traps on farms in South Australia amid new outbreaks
After three years and almost 40 outbreaks, a fruit grower is calling for the government to mandate traps in commercial orchards. It comes as backyard fruit growers call for more education on the pest. ⌘ Read more

Grape growers eye off diverse new markets for export
Wine exporters across regional Victoria are building stronger ties with overseas countries to offload a glut of red wine, in what is being described as one of the most challenging harvests the sector has ever seen. ⌘ Read more

Farmers of wild Fijian coffee embrace agritourism with ‘paddock-to-plate’ cafe
One of Fiji’s first agritourism ventures is introducing tourists to the taste of the country’s wild coffee and it’s supporting Fijian women to become financially independent in the process. ⌘ Read more

Producer warns ‘fussy’ consumers could jeopardise local fruit and vegetable industry
With flavour the number one priority for this local grower, Rick Scoones says he’s not willing to change his farming practices for buyers focused on cosmetic appearance. ⌘ Read more

Tassie apple variety Southern Bliss about to enter market as national harvest numbers drop
Tasmanian apples could fetch top prices this season, with its apple season escaping the bad weather that plagued interstate orchards. ⌘ Read more

Why this native fly could help Australia’s biggest blueberry-growing region
A native fly species could be key to pollinating crops across Australia’s biggest blueberry-growing region, which is affected by an outbreak of bee-killing parasite, the varroa mite. ⌘ Read more

Expect to see less canned tomatoes on supermarket shelves this year
SPC-branded canned tomato products will not be produced again until next year as Victorian tomato growers are struggling to recover after flooding and hail. ⌘ Read more

How farmers use sunbeds, sunscreen to give their apples the perfect hue
These apples get a beauty treatment to make them more appealing to customers who ”buy with their eyes”. ⌘ Read more

First Fleet cuttings from the Hill of Hermitage created these vineyards. Now they’re under threat
When a pest epidemic destroyed most vineyards across Europe in the late 1800s, Australia’s untouched syrah, or shiraz, vines became the oldest remaining vine rootstock. Now something new threatens them again. ⌘ Read more

Would you try quandong-flavoured coffee?
A small WA business is using the native Australian fruit quandong as a key ingredient in its products, including a coffee blend created as a tribute to the owner’s late daughter. ⌘ Read more

Morale among fruit growers ‘as low as it’s ever been’ as wild hailstorm wreaks havoc in Victoria
The third major storm of the season, described as a “mini-cyclone”, has ”wiped out” what was left of apple crops in the region and robbed some growers of a year’s worth of income. ⌘ Read more

Farmers say crop losses from floods could have been avoided with better road drainage
Victorian farmers are calling for better management of culverts along the Murray Valley Highway, or the addition of more, to help stop paddocks flooding in the future. ⌘ Read more

Hot chips back on the menu as potato shortage eases, but for how long?
Wet weather and fewer potato imports are creating trying times for fish and chips shops, but growers say the start of the potato harvest across Tasmania and Victoria should ease demand. ⌘ Read more

Dahlias go viral as social media makes these classic blooms cool again
From their humble origins as a cottage garden staple, dahlias are experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to the power of social media — and James Bond. ⌘ Read more

Is the potato the best vegetable?
Waxy or floury. Duck fat or oil. What is the best all round potato and should you keep them in the fridge? ⌘ Read more

Humble $26 bottle of Clare Valley chardonnay wins world’s best at prestigious wine awards
Taylors Wines took home the top prize at Germany’s prestigious Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards, beating more than 7,500 wines from around the world. ⌘ Read more

‘Game-changer’ deal sees Australian avocados to set sail for India
A free-trade agreement and access to the Indian market of 1.5 billion people is being hailed as “the light at the end of the tunnel” for avocado growers following a recent avo “glut”. ⌘ Read more

Shifts in weather are causing Italian families to rethink an inter-generational tradition
Italian-Australian communities are facing uncertainty over whether they’ll be able to keep their annual sauce-making tradition this year due to a tomato shortage. ⌘ Read more

Wineries ‘rapt’ as infield grape sorting makes processing quicker and easier
As the grape harvest draws to a close, trucks are delivering fruit to wineries — but their loads carry more than just grapes, which is why infield sorters are growing in popularity. ⌘ Read more

Gardening Talkback March 11 2023
Gardening Talkback March 11 2023 ⌘ Read more

Billionaire Andrew Forrest doubles mango footprint in WA’s Gascoyne
Andrew Forrest’s Harvest Road Group will double its mango footprint in northern WA ⌘ Read more

Peter’s business relies on water, but too much of it has left him with no income
River Murray floodwaters wiped out Peter Singh’s Renmark vineyard late last year — and now he is faced with the difficult question of what to do next: rebuild or sell? ⌘ Read more

Wineries eye further opportunities in US as producers continue to feel the squeeze from China tariffs
More than two years after China placed tariffs on Australian wine, SA producers are still looking for alternative markets for their product. ⌘ Read more

Lucy has barely bought fruit in 12 years. As rate hikes hit hard, here’s how she keeps her pantry full
As the cost of living soars, some people are growing their own fruit and vegetables as a community to help keep grocery bills down. ⌘ Read more

Bringing the bugs back to this winery has saved time, money — and insects
The global population of insects has declined by 41 per cent in the past 40 years, with researchers saying the overuse of chemicals in agriculture is a key reason. ⌘ Read more

Laura Wishart working hard ‘to prove them wrong’ after taking over family’s vineyard
One sure way to make Laura Wishart commit to something is to tell her she cannot do it, and after throwing herself into the management of a vineyard north of Albany she is proving her detractors wrong. ⌘ Read more

Well-known Tasmanian wine brand to be bottled interstate
Josef Chromy wines have been bottled in their home state for years. Now a multi-million-dollar expansion plan will see it move to South Australia. ⌘ Read more

Move over Hass, new avocado varieties are being planted in Australia
Three new avocado varieties have landed on Australian shores in a bid to provide consumers with more options. ⌘ Read more

Farmers stripped of 12 months’ income by freak hailstorm want changes to disaster recovery arrangements
Some Queensland farmers lost 100 per cent of their crops during vicious weather last year but didn’t receive government support as no disaster was declared. As climate change gets worse, they fear for their futures. ⌘ Read more