Late last year we met with banana, papaya, mango and vegetable growers in the far north, the same growers who helped shape our national We Give a Fork campaign. It was time to ask what they thought of the campaign. What was the verdict?

While the Year of Horticulture may have come to a close our eye is firmly on what lies ahead in 2024 - the year #WeGiveAFork and a year of Partners Who Care. In fact, the two go hand in hand.

Connection in the bush is in crisis. That’s what growers told us during our recent state-wide connectivity push. And if it wasn’t so serious, it’d be a joke.  

Many of us this week will be in the throes of planning and shopping for our Christmas feasts with colourful decorations, unusual salad combinations, and yummy desserts featuring plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts taking centre stage.

Record-keeping is a vital part of agribusiness, underpinning not only internal quality assurance (QA), but also the routine compliance audits growers undertake so their produce can go to market.

It’s been two weeks since we launched our national public awareness campaign ‘We Give A Fork’ designed to educate consumers and decision makers alike, as to the complexities in production horticulture.

Last week Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) celebrated our 100th anniversary supporting the horticultural industry.

Now is the time for the public to stand up and say, “we give a fork” about our growers, says Queensland’s state industry body for fruit, vegetables, and nuts.

People working in agriculture production systems across Australia converged in Launceston last week for the international Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) Conference.

As another summer of heatwaves, bushfires, and storms bears down on Queensland, primary producers are using every available resource to protect their families, crops, and businesses.

In the last couple of weeks Queensland horticultural growers have experienced two very different and frightening impacts.

From a self-proclaimed Gen X digital migrant, last week’s AgTech Showcase at the Gatton Smart Farm was met with both trepidation and curiosity.

Wide Bay pineapple grower Jeff Atkinson has a strong track record in using engineering and technology to enhance his farm business.

In the last 18 months Queensland primary producers have been affected by floods, impending drought, and most recently bushfires, with each event throwing a different set of challenges at our farmers.

Did you know… that 25% of all the food we produce in Australia goes to waste? Along the food chain, this waste and associated losses cost $36.6 billion per year.

Last week all QFVG staff were asked to complete a mental first aid course by Christmas as it was recognised that horticulture is really struggling, and we needed to be prepared to support in any way we can.

International Day of Rural Women was celebrated last week during a week of turmoil in Australia’s history. Women too have had to fight for rights as a minority and respect for their roles in relationships, families, businesses, and society.

2023 holds special significance for QFVG, aka Growcom, aka COD, as it commemorates our 100th year in operation.

Streamlining on-farm compliance, an innovative AgTech solution for Australia’s pineapple industry, and drone technology solutions in organic bananas are just some of the amazing projects

Setting goals and charting the course of an entire sector for the next decade sounds like a daunting task, but Queensland horticulture hasn’t hesitated in beginning to execute its Future Fields strategy.