WHETHER or not it was the last National Vegetable Expo to be held at the current Dairy Road site in Werribee seemed far from the minds of the many who attended last month.
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The event attracted about 1200 visitors across the two days, most intent on seeking out the newest vegetable varieties for the coming season.
The record attendance figure included visitors from South Africa, India, Fiji and New Zealand, as well as a number of interstate guests.
The 11 major seed companies put on their best show under mostly ideal weather conditions with new lines of leafy vegetables, herbs and Chinese vegetables to be perused.
Some also showed off their heavier vegetable lines.
National Vegetable Expo coordinator Helena Whitman said apart from some run-of-the-mill initial hick-ups, the Expo committee couldn’t have been happier with the support from sponsors, exhibitors and seed companies.
“We were also very blessed with the weather on Thursday which seemed to bring more visitors than usual to the site,” Ms Whitman said.
Crops were left in the ground for a further two weeks after the Expo allowing seed companies to further utilise the site for trial and demonstration purposes.
More than 50 exhibitors filled the trade display area with everything from large scale machinery, seed coating technology and information services all on show.
The issue of the event being the last at the current site emerged in conversations throughout the two days but did little to dampen the mood of those attending.
“Everyone was aware that this could be the last Expo at the site and urged committee members to ensure this unique event wasn’t lost and that it wasn’t the last time the Expo was held,” Ms Whitman said.
“Can I assure everyone that the Expo committee is doing everything in its power to continue the Event and things are looking encouraging.”
She said a special feature of the event was the ability of seed companies to plant multi varieties and crops on the one site, therefore appealing to all vegetable growers.
The set-up has cemented itself as a truly national event.
“The industry used to have similar events in other States, however over the years with the loss of many of the suitable research stations and sites, such as Gatton, this has become the only such event for the vegetable industry,” Ms Whitman said.
She said the fact that it has been going for so many years at the same time of the year, allowing growers, exhibitors and seed companies to plan well in advance, gave it additional credit.
