NOT a muddy boot or stained hi-vis shirt was in sight as the horticulture industry dolled up for the 2023 Horticulture Awards for Excellence in Adelaide earlier this month.
More than 1500 horticulture industry members from around the country came together at the Adelaide Convention Centre to celebrate the significant contributions of nine of the sector's leading growers, researchers and suppliers.
It was the final event as part of Hort Connections 2023.
The annual awards are the industry's most prestigious honours, and cover a range of areas in horticulture, including recognising outstanding growers in multiple categories, as well as researchers, innovative agribusinesses and the industry's leading exporters.
Ausveg chair Bill Bulmer addressed the crowd, giving credit to the growers who found time away from the farm to contribute to the industry.
He also expressed his concerns over the current state of labour, in particular the changes to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
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"What is happening at the moment is a complete disaster," Mr Bulmer said.
"They've done a great job at buggering that up."
Mr Bulmer encouraged the industry to stick together as "there will be a battle".
He said the current federal government had the right to veto the Ag Visa but hadn't come up with a suitable alternative as yet.
"We need to take the message back that we are not happy as an industry," Mr Bulmer said.
He thanked Nationals leader David Littleproud who was in attendance and said he "hoped he could turn the tide".
A pre-recorded video message from federal agriculture minister Murray Watt was played where he encouraged the industry to continue to grow, and defended the changes to the PALM scheme.
"Our horticulture sector has a bright future ahead," Mr Watt said.
Chair of the International Fresh Produce Association, Richard Byllaardt, also spoke, thanking the organisers for bringing the event together.
Next year's Hort Connections will be held in June 2024 in Melbourne.
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Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
