Melons Australia's CEO Update


Welcome to our last Melon E-News for 2024, and what a year it has been. We have been receiving a number of calls from growers across the country regarding the incoming food safety standards for melons. Therefore, I have dedicated this E-News towards providing you a State/Territory update on the implementation of the new Standards.

I hope that you find this informative and helpful. I also want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year in 2025.

New regulations for food businesses that grow and/or process melons, berries and leafy vegetables are scheduled to apply Australia-wide from 12 February 2025. The Standards upon which these regulations are to be created are outlined in Chapter 4 - Primary Production and Processing Standards of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Standards will assist in creating a level playing field in food safety standards across the industry.

Melons Australia is actively collaborating with State and Territory Governments to ensure the recognition of the Australian melon industry’s world-class food safety practices. We are committed to minimising the administrative and financial burden on melon growers already certified under globally recognised food safety schemes, such as Freshcare and GlobalGAP. We appreciate that the compliance burden being faced by growers is extreme and have presented a brief update from Ebony Faichney on this matter before the State/Territory updates.

If you have questions about your region's specific requirements or wish to discuss anything with regards food safety and compliance, we encourage you to send these insight and questions through (ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au), so we can consider and present these as a collective to the respective State/Territory representative.

Below is a summary of information for each State/Territory, along with links to further details.

The Crushing Cost of Compliance in Australian Horticulture


Ebony Faichney, a 2024 graduate of the National Farmers Federation National Leaders Program, has highlighted the crippling financial burden compliance costs place on Australian horticulture growers. Her research reveals that these costs can exceed $30,000 annually, consuming more than 15% of profits for some family farms and reaching as high as $0.44 per kilogram of fruit sold in low-production years.

Unlike other industries, where equivalent costs are significantly lower, horticulture growers face duplicative standards, invasive audits, and processes driven more by commercial interests than by food safety or farming sustainability. This system is not only financially unsustainable but also imposes immense mental strain on growers. Ebony’s work calls for urgent reform to streamline compliance processes, reduce costs, and safeguard the livelihoods of Australian growers. The full policy is available at www.farmour.com.au

QUEENSLAND'S FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are currently working with peak industry bodies for melons, berries, leafy vegetables and fresh markets on the intricate details to be included in the regulations which will be considered in early 2025 by the Queensland Parliament. The process is ongoing, and therefore there is limited detail available at present on the projected impact and cost to growers, however we commit to sharing this insight as soon as it becomes available.

The implementation will be managed by Safe Food Queensland, with an accreditation application process which will be completed online including an eligibility test, business profile, fee payment, and possibly a food safety management statement (pending your current food safety accreditation). You will be guided through the steps to do this as part of the application process.

Applications are expected to open in early 2025. Updates will be distributed via Melons Australia (in our e-news and by direct email) and via the Safe Food newsletter to which QLD growers are encouraged to sign up here: https://www.safefood.qld.gov.au/horticulture-scheme-subscribe-form/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: Melon Primary Producers and Processors - Safe Food

NEW SOUTH WALES' FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


On Monday 25th November 2024, the NSW Food Authority released the Draft Food Regulation 2025 for public comment. These regulations are a combination of regulations and include the pathway to implement the Primary Production and Processing Standards for melons, berries and leafy vegetables. These draft regulations are open for public comment until Sunday 22nd December 2024, unless an extension is applied for and granted.

Melons Australia is currently considering the Draft NSW Food Regulations 2025 (noting we have an extension until 31st January 2025 to provide a response). The Draft Regulations contain a considerable amount of detail and requirements for all melon businesses operating in NSW.

We wish to draw industry's attention to key proposed elements of the legislation, that we need your feedback on, these are presented below:

All melon businesses in NSW will require a licence with the Food Authority under the plant products food safety scheme upon implementation of the Food Regulation 2025.

The annual licence costs will depend on the size of the property and business:
  • $75 for small melon producers with a property size less than 10 hectares
  • for larger producers with property size greater than 10 hectares, the annual licence cost depends on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) workers handling food (melons):
    • $570 for up to 5 FTE
    • $1,180 for greater than 5 but less than 50 FTE
    • $5,170 for greater than 50 FTE.
     
 

Larger melon producers, with a property size greater than 10 hectares, will need to develop and operate according to a Food Safety Program, which outlines how food safety risks in the business will be controlled. Noting this should not be onerous for those growers already operating within a certified food safety scheme.

There are also proposed requirements for:
  • Taking of samples to be analysed of post-harvest wash water of leafy vegetables and melons.
  • The implementation of a transport vehicle licence at $425 per vehicle.
 

The Food Authority is working with industry Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked food safety scheme owners, including Freshcare, SQF, GLOBALG.A.P and BRCGS to recognise industry audits. This will result in a cost saving for scheme-certified businesses with a good compliance history and allow government verification resources to be focused on:
  • higher risk businesses, such as those who are not part of an industry food safety scheme so do not receive industry audits;
  • higher risk activities, such as washing of produce; and
  • businesses identified through industry audits with a poor compliance history.
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VIEW THE DRAFT REGULATIONS, VISIT:

Draft Food Regulation 2025: Have your say | NSW Food Authority.

NB: Melons Australia will be making a submission regarding the draft regulations so please send your feedback to ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au so we can include your comments in our submission

VICTORIA'S FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


Victoria's food safety standards for melon, berries and leafy vegetable producers will be regulated by Agriculture Victoria and is proposed to take effect on 12 February 2025.

Producers will be required to register via AV Connect (click here: Agriculture Victoria Connect), and the length of this process will vary depending on your current food safety compliance level. Businesses in recognised food safety schemes, (eg: those under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)) will proceed through a data sharing and verification process to recognise their certification.

If you are not on a GFSI-benchmarked food safety scheme, then the process will take longer. Non-certified businesses must complete an online Food Safety Management Statement (FSMS) and undergo audits by AgVic to confirm compliance. Producers can create AV Connect account ahead of time to streamline registration.

Agriculture Victoria offers support to help businesses meet their obligations. In support of this Agriculture Victoria has proposed a temporary fee discount/rebate of 50% for 2025 and 2026. Further discounts may be applied in future years at the discretion of Agriculture Victoria.

To get the latest insight from the Victorian Government's rollout of the Standards, please take the time to watch the recording of the webinar held on December 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRA-gzucNVk

Sign up for Agriculture Victoria’s updates here: Get the latest Food Safety Standards Update from Agriculture Victoria

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

Food safety for horticulture producers | Food safety | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria

WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


The new Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Primary Production and Processing standards will be automatically adopted under the WA Food Act 2008 and will be enforced from 12 February 2025.

Melon growers and processors must now legally register as a food business with their local government before the standards commence on 12 February 2025.

WA Health recognises food safety schemes such as Freshcare, SQF and GLOBALGAP. Growers and processors on an existing food safety scheme will only be required to provide general business contact details and copies of a few forms that are already completed as part of their certification to complete the registration / notification with local government.

To further minimise regulatory burden on industry, growers and processors on a food safety scheme will not be subjected to additional routine inspections as they are already audited by a certified independent third-party auditor.

Growers and processors that are not certified with a recognised food safety scheme will need to demonstrate compliance with the general food safety management requirements of the standards.

Your local government is the appropriate enforcement agency for the Primary production and processing standards for leafy vegetables, melons, and berries.

You will need to contact the local government where your farm and/or processing facility is located to obtain the relevant forms for notification/registration.

Your local government contact details are available from the WA Local Government Association website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

Primary production and processing standards for leafy vegetables, melons, and berries

NORTHERN TERRITORY'S FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


The implementation of the latest Primary Production and Processing standards for the horticulture industry in the Northern Territory covers leafy vegetables, berries and melons.

These standards will be effective in the Northern Territory (NT) from 12 February 2025. Under the Food Act 2004 you are required to comply with any requirement under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). The new standard is in the Code and if you are producing or processing the commodities covered by these standards, it is your responsibility to make sure you are meeting the requirements in the standard.

There are no proposed licencing/registration requirements in the Northern Territory for a business that only undertakes horticulture primary production. However, if you retail direct to the public or you substantially transform the food then you will need to register with NT Health as a food business.

If you are certified under a GFSI-benchmarked scheme (eg: Freshcare) then you will be recognised by the Northern Territory Government as already meeting the objectives of the standard.

Melon growers or processors who are not on a GFSI scheme will need to set up a system to manage food safety and formally document how risks will be managed. This is known as a ‘food safety management statement’. To help you comply with these new standards, the following resources have been made available:
 

NT Farmers have recently distributed a fact sheet to NT growers, and we will directly forward this on to our NT Melon Growers also.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

Primary production and processing standards | NT.GOV.AU

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM UPDATE


Melons Australia has been engaged with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) who have prepared the SA Horticulture regulation discussion paper, which has been presented to the South Australian Minister for consideration along with industry comments and concerns.

It is proposed the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Plant Products) Act 2022 is varied to adopt the horticulture standards (including melons). SA businesses will have a requirement to operate under an approved food safety arrangement under section 16 of the Act. Food safety arrangements require approval by the Minister’s delegate. Businesses that have a food safety arrangement (food safety program) in place already may propose this arrangement, for example Freshcare. The businesses that do not have a food safety arrangement in place will be provided a template which they can fill out, which details their food safety arrangements.

Within the SA Horticulture regulation discussion paper, it notes the proposed fee structure of:
  • an application fee of: $441, and
  • an annual fee, and there were two options presented; 1) a set fee (for Seed Sprout producers currently under regulation this is $388), or 2) a scalable model for fees, and
  • potential audit fees for growers not currently on a GFSI-benchmarked food safety scheme.
 

PIRSA highlights that growers and primary processors (for example, pack-houses) must:
  • identify and control food safety hazards associated with growing and primary processing of melons
  • have an approved food safety management statement which includes notifying regulators of their activities.
 

This applies to fresh melons, including watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew melon and piel de sapo.

Further insight on progress towards implementation will be provided as it becomes available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/food_safety/horticulture

Biosecurity Message

A Biosecurity Message to take you into a Happy New Year

As we enter 2025, the new year offers the perfect opportunity to incorporate simple yet effective practices into your farm management routine to help minimize the risk of pests and diseases. For useful tips and guidance on these essential New Year’s resolutions, and to boost the health and productivity of your farm, click HERE for more information.

Don’t forget if you or your friends and family are travelling through farming regions during the holiday season help maintain good farm biosecurity and stop at the shop not at the farm.

Please remind yourself and others of these fun and informative videos highlighting that biosecurity is everyone's responsibility! https://www.melonsaustralia.org.au/grower/biosecurity/biosecurity-champions

Melon Quality Project Update

New Sampling and Measurement Protocol

The new melon pre-harvest maturity sampling and measurement protocol is now completed and was distributed as a standalone printed flyer in the December 2024 Melon News.

The new protocol was designed to help the Australian melon industry consistently meet the new minimum maturity standards for seedless watermelons, rockmelons, and honeydews.

It provides a standardised approach for maturity evaluation across the industry that enables growers to verify that their fruit meets the minimum maturity standard before harvesting. This will provide a more consistent offering for melon consumers and ultimately reduce the DC compliance testing for retailers.

The project team is happy with the progress made in the first year of this three-year project. Feedback from right across the supply chain has been very positive and Neilsen monitoring is already showing quality improvements for melons at retail.

New Fusarium Wilt of Melons Factsheet


As one of the most damaging pathogens in melons, this fact sheet on fusarium wilt covers various aspects of the disease, from its life cycle, to how it spreads, its pathogenicity, and management options.

Based on the Fusarium Wilt of Melons webinar hosted by the Soil Wealth ICP project in collaboration with Dr Len Tesoriero, this fact sheet includes further information and links to resources to learn more about this pathogen.

Click here to visit the page and download the fact sheet.

To know more about the project please contact:

Umberto Calvo, AHR, on 0448 189 847 or umberto.calvo@ahr.com.au

Foodex Japan Expressions of Interest Now Open


Foodex Japan, the premier food and beverage trade show attracts over 80,000 buyers from across Asia and offers significant business opportunities for Australian melon exporters, with Japan being a key trading partner for the melon industry.

AUSVEG is leading a trade delegation to exhibit at Foodex from 11-14 March 2025, securing a 54sqm booth incorporating Australia’s national brand. Export-ready, levy-paying growers can apply for part-funded positions to participate. The program includes supply chain insights, introductions to market players, and product showcasing to international buyers.

By attending the trade event you will benefit from the following opportunities:
  • Building your knowledge of the local supply chain and participating in a market insights tour.
  • Gaining introduction to retailers, importers, and wholesalers in the market.
  • Exhibiting and showcasing your products to international fresh produce buyers.
 
Applications close on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, with outcomes communicated via email.

Evoke Ag 2025


Tickets are now available for AgriFutures Australia’s premier agrifood technology and innovation event, EvokeAg.
The event offers a chance for the global agrifood #tech and innovation community to unite on common ground to solve shared challenges and seize future opportunities together across the agrifood supply chain.

Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2025

Time: 6:00 PM - Wed, 19 Feb 2025 5:00 PM AEST

Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Chinchilla Melon Festival 2025


Melons Australia will proudly be flying the industry flag again at the 2025 Chinchilla Melon Festival, promoting melons as a healthy food source and celebrating the dedication and hard work of growers who make it possible for everyone to enjoy these delicious fruits. The festival is on from 13-16 February 2025.

To keep up to date with the latest news on the festival visit: https://www.melonfestival.com.au/

Melons Australia's 30th Anniversary


Save the Date!

On Wednesday 4th June 2025, in Brisbane QLD, the Melons Australia team are working to host a Melon Conference/Workshop session prior to the official opening of Hort Connections 2025.

This will then culminate in our 30th Anniversary celebrations through the evening of Wednesday 4th June 2025. More details will be coming in early 2025, so save the date and stay tuned!

Should you wish to support the organising team, please reach out to Johnathon at ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au

Hort Connections 2025


Early Bird passes for Hort Connections 2025 are officially on sale!

Hort Connections 2025 promises to deliver even more opportunities to:
  • Grow your network, knowledge, and business with access to world-class educational content and networking events,
  • Connect with industry professionals, including growers, packers, processors, retailers, researchers, and industry leaders,
  • Thrive through innovative horticulture practices, new sustainability solutions, agtech advances, emerging horticulture trends or alternative opportunities.
 

Date: Wednesday 4th – Friday 6th June 2025

Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre


Contact:

Melons Australia

E: ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au

Copyright © 2023 Melons Australia

All rights reserved.

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