Campaign Launched to Source Local Workforce
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THE AUSTRALIAN STRAWBERRY NUMBER 43 SEPTEMBER 2016 INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO SOURCE Campaign launched to source local workforce 1 LOCAL WORKFORCE Simply Redder - significant Jen Rowling, Strawberry Industry Development Officer opportunities to boost strawberry health credentials See the strawberry levy in action 3 The future beyond methyl bromide – perspectives from the US 4 International Strawberry Symposium brings together world leaders in research, technology and innovation 6 More key horticulture industry investment panels kick off 9 Best farmers, monitor their crops 10 Phytoplasma and rickettsia infections in Australian strawberry industry 14 What’s happening in your state? Media launch of The Sweetest Job campaign. 17 QSGA Directory ith concerns about a number dedicated website and a targeted media 26 of significant factors that could and marketing campaign designed News & Events Wpotentially impact the future to attract a motivated local workforce 28 availability of farm workers, particularly and re-position strawberry jobs as an the proposed backpacker tax changes opportunity for jobseekers. This was for overseas workers, an innovative backed by systems and processes to Strawberry Innovation is a new national industry development program, focused on improving national initiative to scope out the potential filter and identify ideal candidates from communication and coordination across the whole of a local workforce was launched in the registration pool, aiming to supply of the Australian strawberry industry. The project has Queensland in May this year. farms with qualified, ready to work been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the strawberry levy and funds from the The Queensland Strawberry Industry, employees. Australian Government in collaboration with funding partners Following a huge amount of media Regional Development Australia attention, jobseekers flooded the website Moreton Bay, Moreton Bay Regional with over 1,200 registrations within the Council and Sunshine Coast Council first week. A survey was distributed to all launched The Sweetest Job campaign, those who had registered, requesting a local recruitment drive which aims to further information on a range of increase the number of local employees factors including availability, flexibility across the region. A group of 10 and physical ability. Jobseekers who strawberry growers were happy to be returned the completed survey were involved in a trial of the campaign. then invited to attend one of the Powered by The Job Show and information sessions being held at with support of industry bodies Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast. such as Growcom and the Food and With presentations from a range of Agribusiness Network (FAN), the industry stakeholders including growers, initiative involved the development of a industry representatives and the Fair 1 Work Ombudsman, the sessions gave jobseekers a no-frills account of what is involved with working on a strawberry farm. Over 150 people attended the first session in Caboolture and over 250 at the Sunshine Coast event. Unfortunately, the strawberry season in Queensland in 2016 was not ideal for the launch of a recruitment campaign. With production down 20 to 40% across the industry, the 10 growers involved in the campaign simply did not have the work available as expected. However, a definite increase in the number of locals employed by farms was experienced However of those that remain, as a result of the The Sweetest Job growers are extremely happy with the campaign. quality of workers that they have, and are confident that they will be a positive Outcomes to date addition to the business and a potential • Unique website hits: 7,905 returning workforce. As one grower has • Website Registrations: 2,144 described the four out of 15 locals that • Survey Responses: 1,073 she employed through the Sweetest Job • Interviewed: 126 campaign still working at the farm, they • Placements Direct: 53 are “four gold nuggets out of a bucket • Indirect placements: approximately full of sand that they sifted through”, 40-50 (direct to farm) and she is looking forward to being a part of the campaign again next year. What is interesting to note is that A full review of The Sweetest Job despite 53 placements through the will be conducted in consultation with Sweetest Job campaign, and approx. the growers involved post-season, 40 to 50 placed as a result of direct and potential improvements identified contact with the farms, less than half of based on lessons learnt. This review those placed remain in jobs on farm. will form the basis of decisions made And of those remaining, there are only in relation to its ongoing viability, a handful that are out in the field picking and to seek further funding for future Information sessions for jobseekers held in or in packing positions. campaigns. Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast. SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY SOIL FUMIGANTS AND SOIL FUMIGATION EQUIPMENT. Servicing the strawberry industry with the latest advice, new products, and technologies. Contact Rod Mitchell 0418 585 666 Rob Gregorio 0400 538 715 2 SIMPLY REDDER - SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES TO BOOST STRAWBERRY HEALTH CREDENTIALS Kent Fanning, Research Scientist, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries trawberries are rightly viewed as a provides 200% of the RDI for vitamin healthy fruit by growers, retailers C. Furthermore, the folate content of Sand consumers. New research the analysed commercial varieties was is providing more information on the 2 to 3 times higher than the value in composition and health benefits,NUTTAB. At these folate concentrations, which could lead to fresh marketing strawberries provide 30 to 43% of the opportunities for Australian-grown RDI per serve. Ongoing analysis of the strawberries. folate content of strawberries, including specific ‘high anthocyanin’ strawberry A recent project conducted by the screening of breeding germplasm cultivars will be further examined in Queensland Department of Agriculture (which may contain lines with higher Naturally Nutritious. and Fisheries (DAF), The University folate levels) and bioavailability studies, It is recommended that industry-wide of Queensland (UQ) and Technical is being undertaken as part of a TUM development of a standardised list of University of Munich (TUM), has reviewed PhD project and the HIA funded project nutrition figures and permitted health the health and compositional data for entitled ‘Naturally Nutritious’ (which claim statements, for use on punnets strawberries. The content of certain is being led by UQ with DAF and and associated promotional material, vitamins and polyphenolic compounds Queensland University of Technology as be undertaken. Regular updates of the (including anthocyanins, which are the collaborators). planned work on folate and anthocyanin pigments [red] in strawberries) was also The lowering of LDL (‘bad’) content of strawberries will be reported measured in Queensland-grown fruit. cholesterol is the specific health benefit through future editions of Simply Red. Based on data from the primary from strawberry consumption (apart The project team involved in this Australian food nutrient database from that linked to the content of work was Kent Fanning and Mark (NUTTAB)1, a serve of strawberries (144 macro and micro nutrients), with the Herrington (DAF), Michael Netzel (UQ), g) provides greater than 10% of the strongest evidence. A recent clinical and Laura Recktenwald, Lisa Striegel recommended dietary intake (RDI) or trial undertaken in California suggests and Michael Rychlik (TUM). Thanks to daily intake of fibre, iron, molybdenum, that a minimum anthocyanin content Jennifer Rowling, Louella Woolcock potassium, folate and vitamin C. Due to may be necessary to realise this affect. (DAF), Adrian and Mandy Schultz, Taste this content, there are a range of claims In our analysis, the average anthocyanin N See, SSS Strawberries, Elise Pike (Red that can be made according to Australia content (90 mg/100 g fruit) for seven Jewel), and Nathan Baronio (Eastern New Zealand Food Standards Code – of the tested cultivars was seen to Colour), for organising and supplying Standard 1.2.7. be higher relative to the majority of fruit for analysis. The analysis undertaken by the project cultivars analysed in previous studies. The Australian food nutrient team determined an average vitamin Based on this content, these cultivars database can be found at http:// C content 27% higher than the current would contribute 84% of the LDL- www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/ value in the NUTTAB database. Based lowering anthocyanin dose used in the monitoringnutrients/ nutrientables/ on this content, a serve of strawberries Californian trial. The opportunities for nuttab/Pages/default.aspx SEE THE STRAWBERRY LEVY IN ACTION ave you checked out Hortlink edition coming shortly. yet? Published quarterly by To be the first to know HHorticulture Innovation Australia when the next edition of (Hort Innovation), Hortlink provides Hortlink is out, strawberry funded projects in the strawberry a snapshot of current and recently growers are encouraged to become industry, you’re welcome to contact completed investment projects in your members of Hort Innovation – it’s the industry’s Relationship Manager levy industry. As well as showing how free and there are plenty of other at Hort Innovation, Bradley Mills, on your levy dollars are being put to work, benefits. Remember that paying a (03) 9691 3525 or at bradley.mills@ Hortlink includes