Melons Australia's CEO Update


This week, I’ve been in Mildura, VIC, and Wentworth, NSW, capturing content for our upcoming Industry Pride Video. This project highlights the vibrant colours of Australian melon production and the dedicated people behind the scenes. We’re excited to share it with you and our community in the coming weeks!

As we prepare for the Chinchilla Melon Festival (13–16 February 2025), we’re thrilled to be working with Jemma O’Hanlon to showcase the nutritional benefits of enjoying a variety of melons. If you’re attending, let me know—we’ll be hosting informal discussions throughout the day with growers and the community to celebrate the incredible people in our industry. Read more about the festival below.

Planning is also well underway for our Europe Study Tour, scheduled from 30 June to early July 2025. Further details and a call for expressions of interest can be found later in this E-News. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the tour, please email me at ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au

We’ve started the year by focusing on the upcoming FSANZ Food Safety Standards for melons, berries, and leafy vegetables. In this space, we continue to champion the Safe Melons program, tracking adoption and compliance across the industry. We covered this in detail in our December 2024 E-News, which you can read by clicking here.

As always, if there are any issues or opportunities where Melons Australia can support you, please reach out—we’re here to help! You can contact me by email HERE or call me at +61 407 032 023.

Melons Australia at Chinchilla Melon Festival


Come and join the team from Melons Australia and Hort Innovation for the Aussie Melon Masterclass being held throughout the day at the Melon Festival on Saturday 15th February. What better day to show how much we LOVE melons!

We are very lucky to have Jemma O’Hanlon with us who will be running the masterclass and demonstrating some truly delicious and nutritious melon snacks and also leading discussions with some real melon growers and other members of the industry so that everyone in the audience can get a better understanding of how melons are grown and how they make it from the paddock to the plate!

Jemma is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD) and Accredited Nutritionist (AN) and for 20 years she has worked with organisations to inspire health and happiness, from charities to global corporations.

She also works in the media (you may have seen her on the Channel 7 Morning Show) to bust nutrition myths and share her perspectives on topical nutrition matters, from the latest fad diet to research breakthroughs and the big issues affecting the health of Australians.

We are very excited to have Jemma with us to share her insights and exciting recipes and can’t wait to see you at the biggest and best Melon Festival Ever!

Study Tour Opportunity for Melon Industry Members - Europe June 2025!


Melons Australia, in partnership with the Hort Innovation Melon Fund, is offering melon growers and members of industry the opportunity to participate in an exclusive melon study tour through Spain and potentially Italy in late June/early July (tentatively 30th June – 11thJuly). The tour will explore key growing regions, featuring visits to trial demonstration sites, innovative growers, cutting-edge technology showcases, and major retail and wholesale markets.

This program is part of a 3-year project funded by the Hort Innovation Melon Levy (VM23000).

This is a fantastic opportunity to expand your knowledge, network with industry leaders, and gain first-hand experience in international melon production. A small financial contribution is required, along with participation in reporting through recorded interviews.

SUBMIT YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - To apply, please complete our formal Expression of Interest Form on our website, and email through to Johnathon. For more information please contact Johnathon Davey, CEO Melons Australia via email HERE

Encouraging Melon Quality Improvements


The three-year levy funded project to increase the consumer acceptability of Australian melons Melon quality improvement program (VM23002) has already seen some promising results since it started in March last year.

Wholesale and retail monitoring data from August 24 to the 1st of January 25 showed notable improvements in the Brix compliance of rockmelons, and honeydew along with a small shift in the right direction for watermelons. The key results were:
  • Rockmelons had the largest improvement with 83% Brix compliance. This already meets the new minimum maturity standards and is 20 percentage points higher than the 63% Brix compliance recorded in the 2022-23 season.
  • Honeydew showed continued quality improvements with 51% Brix compliance. While this is still below the 70% minimum maturity standard, it is a vast improvement from the 18% Brix compliance recorded in the 2022-23 season and the 22% recorded in the 2023-24 season.
  • Watermelons are currently showing a 53% Brix compliance which is up slightly from the 51% recorded in the 2023-24 season and lower than the 80% minimum maturity standard agreed by the industry. The project team are confident that Brix compliance will continue to improve for watermelons as the project progresses.
 

Growers can access live data focused on Brix, Brix compliance, firmness and weight through a link at the bottom of the Melon Quality Project page on the Melons Australia website.

Opportunity to participate in the ARLF TRAIL program


There is the opportunity for a member of the melon industry to participate in the upcoming Australian Rural Leadership Foundation “TRAIL” program as part of the broader Melon Industry Leadership Program.

Running from 6th to 12th March 2025 TRAIL is a cross-sector, challenge-based 7-day leadership program for Australia’s emerging rural leaders. It develops leadership skills and connects participants with a network of peers and role models.

It includes a challenging five-day outdoor experience, along with numerous workshops and panel sessions, and is suited to diverse people from different occupations, communities, and backgrounds.

The Melon Industry has already supported melon grower Ben Rackemann to participate in this program in 2024 – for his insights about the course you can go to https://www.melonsaustralia.org.au/grower/training-and-development

Given the timeframe of this course if you are interested, we need you to contact us as soon as possible. For more information and the Expression of interest form please email biosecurity@melonsaustralia.org.au

Help us make an impact!


Attention all melon growers – you are invited to participate in a ground breaking project to benchmark the environmental performance of Australian melon production.

The Thinkstep team are working with growers and Melons Australia to better understand the industry’s potential environmental impacts and to create powerful tools to communicate sustainability efforts.

Participating growers will receive a one-page summary specifically for their farm operations. This will give you farm specific quantitative data measuring your carbon footprint, water usage and nutrient runoff and can be used to help you with marketing, identify production efficiencies and stay ahead of market and policy developments.

It is important to note that all data collected will be kept completely confidential and only aggregated unidentifiable data will be included in industry/publicly available reports.

For more information, please click here or to learn more about the project and/or participate please contact:

Emily Moore | thinkstep-anz

emily.moore@thinkstep-anz.com

Joanna Embry | Melons Australia

biosecurity@melonsaustralia.org.au

Fruit fly in Auckland


On 3 January 2025, a single male Oriental fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in a suburban backyard in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe. As a result, a biosecurity operation and extra field teams were activated in Auckland. As of the 9th January 2025 there have been no signs of any further Oriental fruit flies after placing and checking more than 100 extra traps in the area and surveying more than 500 local properties and the fruit grown on them. Surveillance is continuing.

Oriental fruit fly are about the same length as a common housefly, but more slender. They grow to 6-8 mm in length and have clear wings, generally black chests and paler abdomens with a distinctive black, T-shaped marking on the back.

There are many fruit flies not currently present in Australia that would present a major risk to horticulture industries including melons if they entered and became established. Oriental fruit fly is one of those and it carries a risk rating of “medium” in the Australian Melon Biosecurity Plan.

Check your crop frequently for the presence of new pests and unusual symptoms. If you suspect something unusual report it to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on: 1800 084 881.

Important Update: Gramoxone 360 PRO Herbicide Recall


The recall for Gramoxone 360 PRO herbicide has been updated on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) website.

If you have this product, visit the Recall Notices section on the APVMA website for full details and important instructions.

Building resilience to climate extremes: Getting ready for changing conditions


This five part series from the Soil Wealth ICP project has been designed to help melon and vegetable growers build resilience to climate extremes. These resources are freely available and aim to support Australian melon farmers in navigating the challenges posed by a changing climate.

What’s in the series?

The Building Resilience Series provides a practical, risk-based approach to assessing and improving resilience across all aspects of a farm business. It has been specifically created to help growers:
  • Examine risk and resilience across multiple interconnected areas of their business.
  • Develop actionable plans to address specific risks and improve overall adaptability to climate extremes.
  • Access additional tools and resources to support their efforts in managing risk and enhancing resilience.
 

The series comprises a holistic model for understanding farm business risk and resilience. It also includes:
  • A straightforward method for conducting individual risk assessments.
  • Links to valuable tools and resources tailored for Australian farmers to  strengthen their ability to manage climate-related challenges.
 

Download the fact sheets here.

Learn more about the Soil Wealth ICP here, or please contact: Umberto Calvo, AHR, on 0448 189 847 or umberto.calvo@ahr.com.au

$20M Boost for Farmers with On Farm Connectivity Program


Melons Australia welcomes the third round of the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), announced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The program offers farmers a 50% rebate (from $1,000 to $30,000) on costs for connected machinery and sensor technology, including installation and training.

A total of $20 million will be available for Round 3, with applications opening later in 2025, with grant funding to be delivered in 2025-26.

Farmers are advised to prepare early, as demand will be high. The On Farm Connectivity Information Service is provided by the Regional Tech Hub delivering free and independent advice on producers’ connectivity options. For more information go to
On Farm Connectivity Information Service - Regional Tech Hub

Melons Australia welcomes the third round of the On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP), announced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The program offers farmers a 50% rebate (from $1,000 to $30,000) on costs for connected machinery and sensor technology, including installation and training.

A total of $20 million will be available for Round 3, with applications opening later in 2025, with grant funding to be delivered in 2025-26.

Farmers are advised to prepare early, as demand will be high. The On Farm Connectivity Information Service is provided by the Regional Tech Hub delivering free and independent advice on producers’ connectivity options. For more information go to:


On Farm Connectivity Information Service - Regional Tech Hub

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.

Date: 13 - 16 Feb 2025
Location: Chinchilla State Primary School Oval

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

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

CARNARVON GROWERS Field Day-15 March 2025


CGA is presenting this year’s field day event at the Carnarvon Festival Grounds with an exciting new theme ‘The Heart of Growing’.

The field day showcases the region's horticulture industry, with a focus on growers and collaboration between suppliers, supply chain, innovation, agritourism, agronomy and community.

The day will be filled with fun, learning, and networking. This in-person event starts at 8:00 AM and promises to be an exciting opportunity to connect with fellow growers, learn about the latest industry trends, and discover new techniques to enhance your crop production.

Date: Saturday, 15th March 2025

Location: Carnarvon Festival Grounds 

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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