Industry Associations from Australia

June 05, 2021

AUSVEG announces Michael Coote as new CEO

Australian vegetable and potato industry body AUSVEG has announced the appointment of Michael Coote as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 July 2021.

December 10, 2016

AUSVEG appoints James Whiteside as its new CEO

Leading Australian vegetable industry body AUSVEG has announced the appointment of James Whiteside as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Friday 9 December 2016.

November 24, 2016

Geoff Moar re-elected as AUSVEG Chair, Belinda Adams elected as Deputy Chair

New South Wales potato grower Geoff Moar has been re-elected to the position of AUSVEG Chair and Queensland vegetable grower Belinda Adams has been elected to the position of AUSVEG Deputy Chair following a Board meeting held on Thursday 24 November in Sydney.

The Mitolo Group buys major parts of bankrupt Oakland Produce - Australia's largest fresh potato supplie

October 04, 2016

The Mitolo Group buys major parts of bankrupt Oakville Produce - formerly Australia's largest fresh potato supplier

According to a Deloitte spokesman South Australian fresh produce company the Mitolo Group had taken control of all South Australian-owned farms of bankrupt Oakville Produce, as well as packaging businesses in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney - as of September 23.

September 06, 2016

Potato marketing board deregulation law passed by Parliament Western Australia

Western Australia's Parliament has cleared the way for full deregulation of the state's potato industry, passing legislation to abolish the controversial Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC).

March 23, 2016

Victorian Potato Growers Council rebranded Potatoes Victoria

Potatoes Victoria is being launched today to replace the previous Victorian Potato Growers Council. A division of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Potatoes Victoria has been representing Victorian potato growers for more than 20 years.

March 06, 2016

West Australian potato farmers demand deregulation date as concern grows over uncertainty

Potato growers say the West Australian industry has 'collapsed' amid speculation over the timeline for deregulation.

August 10, 2015

Australian consumers favour pre-packaged potatoes in a small bag

Consumer research in Australia, Potato Tracker, has shown that Australian consumers prefer to purchase pre-packaged potatoes, with one to two kilogram packages as the ideal sizes.

July 16, 2015

One Third of Aussies can't name a single Potato Variety

It appears that many Australians don’t know their King Edwards from their Kennebecs, with the latest wave of the Potato Tracker consumer research project indicating that some people can’t name a single variety of potato, despite being the most commonly purchased vegetable commodity.

June 14, 2015

Keynote Speakers National Horticulture Convention in Queensland, Australia

A Tasmanian potato grower - known for her innovative use of the vegetable - has been announced as a keynote speaker at this year's National Horticulture Convention in Queensland, later this month.

Colin Barnett, premier of Western Australia

April 20, 2015

Premier Western Australia: Potato Marketing Corporation will be abolished within two years

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Bartlett, reportedly told The West Australian that it was time for rules that dictated the varieties, quantities and price of potatoes grown in Western Australia - and the Potato Marketing Corporation - to go.

Tony Galati has been battling the powerful potato regulator for the last 20 years (Source: News Corp Australia)

April 08, 2015

Legal action announced in Western Australia Potato War

The Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia has announced plans to take legal action against Galati, who owns a chain of grocery stores called the Spudshed as well as being one of the state’s largest growers.

March 19, 2015

Vietnamese work and holiday deal promising news for Australian growers

AUSVEG has welcomed the signing of a work and holiday Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian and Vietnamese governments, which could assist Australian vegetable and potato growers fill labour shortages during peak harvesting times.

March 05, 2015

AUSVEG questions benefits of generic potato marketing campaign

AUSVEG remains wholly unconvinced of the benefits of a grower-funded generic potato marketing campaign despite claims from the Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia that the initiative has been a success in that state.

December 23, 2014

South Australian potato growers disappointed with sale of McCain Penola facility to beef company

In South Australia, McCain has sold its former potato processing factory at Penola to a meat processor, to the dismay of some local growers.

December 03, 2014

Mashed potatoes most often prepared potato dish in Australia

The weather might be warming up [well, in Australia that is, not here in Canada...PP] but that isn’t stopping Aussie consumers tucking in to a hearty serve of mashed potato, according to the latest wave of the industry-funded Potato Tracker project.

November 16, 2014

South Australian potato industry chips away at South East Asian markets

The South Australian Government is partnering with Potatoes South Australia to gain export access and expand the state’s seed and fresh potato industry within the growing international markets of Thailand and Malaysia.

Australia: Taste and convenience emerge as key factors to increase spud consumption

October 11, 2014

Australia: Taste and convenience key factors to increase potato consumption

The first wave of results from the Australian industry-funded Potato Tracker project have been released, shedding encouraging new light on purchase triggers and consumption habits relating to fresh potatoes.