December 2018 Welcome to the Members Only Festive Season edition of Nuts & Burrs **MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS NOW DUE (Overdue) ** Presidents Report Hello and welcome to the Festive Season edition transparency of spending and/or allocation of of Nuts and Burrs. This is the beginning of my grower funds. This is a great disappointment and second stint as President of CAI. Just a brief source of frustration for the whole CAI Committee update on what’s been happening since the AGM, and should cause considerable concern for all Brian Casey has decided to stay on the CAI Levy Payers, not just CAI Members. Committee to fulfil his 3-year term and was appointed as Vice President and Luciano Cester The main proposal to be put to the Special was appointed as Secretary/Treasurer. At the General Meeting in regard to the Statutory Levy AGM Tom Robertson was appointed to the CAI will be: Committee for a 3-year term. This has led to a • To increase the R&D/PHA Levy Committee of 6 persons with David McIntyre contribution to 7cents being appointed by the CAI Committee to fill a • Retain the 1cent EPPRD Levy casual vacancy. • Set the Marketing Levy at zero Three years after leaving the position of There are numerous reasons for going down this President, many of the issues are still ongoing. path: One of them being Chestnut Blight and its current • HIAL’s lack of financial accountability and and potential impact on the whole industry. It was transparency in relation to the chestnut great to hear that so many people volunteered for Corporate Service charges the spring surveillance. This was a credit to the • The high HIAL Corporate Service charges entire industry and the importance of it cannot be reducing the overall value of the understated, not only for the ongoing battle Marketing levy and associated programs against the disease but also the looming battle • When CAI proposed changes to the with Agriculture Victoria. A great deal of credit and funding split the budgeted HIAL gratitude needs to go to Brian Casey, Trevor Corporate Service charges for R&D and Ranford and David McIntyre for their countless Marketing did not differ. meetings and teleconferences with regards blight. Thank you all for your ongoing and tireless efforts. CAI will have a breakdown of the HIAL Corporate Service charges that they are putting on the levy Field Day & Special General Meeting - Stanley and present this to the meeting in February. CAI is - February 9th 2019 proposing to replace the Statutory Marketing levy Could everybody please save this date! Not only collected with a CAI managed voluntary is this a Field Day but CAI will be convening a contribution for Marketing. A more detailed Special General Meeting. The Field Day will no explanation of these proposals will be distributed doubt be great as usual, but one of the main to all known Levy Payers and CAI members in issues is getting as many Levy Payers and early January. Members to attend the Special General Meeting with the aim of resolving the issue of the levy split. Season 2019 With rain imminent throughout the growing region, The management of levy funds through HIAL is and hopefully to the areas that are in severe just another of those unresolved issues that were drought, that is gravely affecting them, hopefully it there when I was previously President. HIAL keeps up during summer! It would be nice break manages the levy spend on behalf of horticulture after the dry summer last year. Flowering has industries. One of the areas of concern for CAI begun and is a reminder that the harvest is only 3 and other industries is the total lack of months away. 1 People need to start thinking about their 2018/2019 chestnut season. Approvals have gone processes for harvest and storage so that we can ahead for the production of two, four-page, A5 ensure only the best quality fruit is marketed next size recipe brochures. Each brochure will feature season. one recipe and will include information on health benefits and how to prepare chestnuts, including Can I please implore that everyone spread the methods on how to cook them. The two recipes message about the Special General Meeting on that the Subcommittee have chosen to publish are February 9th 2019 so we can explain the issues a Chocolate Chestnut Brownie and a Spicy with the levy and propose the best option for the Chestnut Pumpkin and Pancetta soup. In keeping industry going forward. We all have a lot at stake with our theme, ‘Make Everyday Meals Special and it would be great to see you all there. Please with Chestnuts’, the recipes chosen are ones note the Field Day program has changed which are simple for consumers to prepare and somewhat to what was reported on in the ones where pantry essentials make up the December edition of the Australian Nutgrower, the majority of the required ingredients. full program and registration form can be downloaded above. Be quick to register and pay, In total 80,000 brochures will be printed, (40,000 only 30 seats are available for dinner that evening of each recipe) and these will be distributed by at the Stanley Pub, first to register and pay will courier to 44 locations, in VIC, NSW, SA, QLD, receive priority. WA, and ACT in early February. Hopefully everyone gets to have a break over Christmas. Travel safely. Adam Gatford CAI President Marketing Report This edition of Nuts & Burrs has been fittingly called the Festive Season edition. While looking for recipe inspiration on our consumer website www.chestnutsaustralia.com.au I noticed that the selection closely resembles a spread one might see on a Christmas table. And I couldn’t believe just how many delicious and inspirational recipe ideas that have been developed by Chestnuts Australia over the years. On the website, there are countless recipe suggestions for main courses, sides, and desserts. There’s no better way to bring some Christmas cheer amidst all the seeming doom and gloom than by toasting the Festive Season with some chestnuts and a cold glass of sparkling! (you may need to get your hands on some value added chestnuts or dig up some of last seasons out of the freezer!). Our recipe ideas are so inspirational, in fact, they even excited Marjana, Editor In Chief of Slovenian magazine, ‘Maja and Jej zdravo’, who asked us if they could use our images in their magazine. One just never knows who could be visiting our website, seeking information on the Australian chestnut industry or simply looking for chestnut ideas. The globe is watching us and taking note! Talking about ideas, let’s have a look at what the In late January, a pre-season media release will Marketing Subcommittee have planned for the be sent out to an extensive range of media and 2 food industry influencers to maximize to the food service industry who cater to the opportunities to gain media coverage. The format needs of their chefs and caterers. The Marketing will be a four-page, A4 chestnut information flyer. Subcommittee have decided to target this very The content will include information about influential group of the food market sector next seasonality, health benefits, preparation and year. Provedores typically publish a weekly usage, and recipes with accompanying photos. newsletter which they distribute to their food Another reason for distributing an early media service customers. release is to make sure that the Australian chestnut season is kept ‘top of mind’ prior to its Utilising cost-effective EDMs, Provedores will be commencement and throughout the season. informed when the Australian chestnut season is due to commence. This information could then be One of the most influential links in the chestnut conveyed to the chefs and caterers they supply, supply chain, from orchard to consumer, is without encouraging them to include chestnuts in their any doubt, Greengrocers. Greengrocers offer autumn and winter menus, which are usually advice about in season produce and when it will prepared very early in the season. The EDM to be available in their store. They can make cooking Provedores will include information about chestnut suggestions, offer recipe ideas and can even varieties, ideas on sweet and savoury culinary provide their customers with recipe cards. applications, complimentary flavour suggestions, Consumers come to trust their local Greengrocer as well as information on optimal storage for good advice, and they can and do influence methods. Utilising these cost-effective Internet demand. For this reason, marketing has decided marketing strategies, we can communicate to make a special flyer available for Greengrocers. directly with influential Greengrocers and Provedores who can encourage fresh chestnut The Greengrocer flyer will include information on consumption at the retail and wholesale levels, retail presentation and storage tips. Too often, and in this way hopefully benefit the Australian consumer feedback from in-store purchases chestnut industry. describe dull and soft chestnuts, lacking their signature shine. It raises the question: are As usual, roasting chestnuts at Myrtleford’s La chestnuts returned to the cool room at the end of Fiera will feature in 2019. This event, which is trade? Or are they simply left to dry out on the always expertly and efficiently managed by our shelf? For quality purposes, if a refrigerated very own Communications Officer Tanya cabinet or a cold plate is available, these would be Edwards, will be the culmination of the marketing more suitable options for showcasing fresh campaign and boasts growing numbers of chestnuts. For this reason, commercial storage attendees every year. will feature prominently in the flyer.