Whitsunday residents can now travel directly to the Hunter Valley thanks to new direct flights to Newcastle which commenced last Thursday.

Bonza Airlines will now travel twice weekly to the wine growing region, allowing locals to enjoy cultural weekends away and, more broadly, general tourists to experience both the vines and the reef within one holiday.

Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Julie Hall applauded Bonza for exploring new routes to make it easy for Aussie families in regional areas to reconnect.

“Connecting the amazing Newcastle and Hunter Valley wine region to the beautiful Whitsundays, heart of the Great Barrier Reef is a win for both communities,” she said.

“From the vines to the reef opens a huge catchment area that can now access budget direct flights to the wonderful Whitsundays.”

Bonza is Australia’s brand-new independently owned airline carrier and its head office operates from the Sunshine Coast.

The airline aims to reinstate affordable air travel and each hour of travel will cost passengers on average $50.

Bonza travels between the Whitsundays and the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba weekly.

Newcastle Airport Executive General Manager Aviation and Air Freight Business Development, Andrew Warrender, and Whitsunday Regional Council Chief Operating Officer Aviation and Tourism, Craig Turner

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Bowen’s Chamber of Commerce is playing a guiding role in rallying the community for the redevelopment of the town’s beloved but crumbling jetty.

Nearly 100 people gathered at Bowen’s Larrikin Hotel on the evening of March 27 to hear addresses by Bowen Chamber of Commerce Chairman Bruce Hedditch, chamber Deputy Chairman Tony Bale, and Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays CEO Robert Cocco.

The chamber special meeting was called to kickstart a community discussion over the future of the jetty, whose future is in doubt with the impending relocation of three North Queensland Bulk Ports trawlers, which are based on one of the two arms of the facility. They are to be based in another location because of the present two-hour each way trip to and from the coal-loading facility at Abbot Point.

Under the terms of the land lease, if there is no further use and revenue-raising capability of the jetty, there was an obligation on Bowen to dismantle it, according to Bruce Hedditch.

“We need to develop a plan for when things change in the current use of the jetty,” he said.

Tony Bale spoke of the historical use of the 750 metre-long jetty, which was built from 1865-1867 and played an important role in the town’s early primary industries, as a coal port (until the 1970s) and as part of a naval base.

At its peak, industry gathered around the jetty employed 600 people.

It featured extensive use of Tasmanian hardwood in major timber work, and new foundation works in the early decades of the 20th century used the new process of steel-reinforced concrete.

Up to four ships at a time could be handled by the facility, which was serviced by a now gone rail link. However, the condition of the jetty is now poor.

“It’s not going to fall down tomorrow; the old girl will still be here for a time yet,” Mr Bale said.

He said some of the major timber work had rotted or been damaged by past cyclonic activity and some of the concrete foundations on the two jetty pads were now suffering from concrete spalling, where the steel in the concrete was now rusting.

There had already been more than 50 ideas generated for the jetty’s future so far, Mr Bale said,  in categories such as tourism; water activities; retail and hospitality; historical exhibits; environment centre; and accommodation in the jetty’s immediate foreground.

Bowen businessman Kevin Murphy is even proposing buying a mothballed ocean liner for its scrap value and floating it to Bowen to be sunk alongside the jetty as a permanent hotel/real estate fixture, which Mr Murphy claimed would more than recoup the $40 million needed to finance the project.

Mr Bale used examples of other jetty projects such as Redcliffe pier, Glenelg jetty, Broome jetty, Busselton jetty, and even Galveston, Texas and Sellin Pier, Germany, as examples where communities had rallied together to save and repurpose these much-valued community assets.

“The optimum idea is to get a blend of private and public investment,” he said, “but not too biased one way or the other.”

Rob Cocco said community backing was crucial to redevelopment hopes for the jetty. “They (the government) are looking for one thing: a community that is interested.”

Remedial works had been undertaken on the jetty, including laying down plywood along the walkway and handrail repairs, and even these works were now starting to deteriorate.

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Presenting options to help the Bowen community find a new life for its historic jetty are (from left) Bowen Chamber of Commerce chairman Bruce Hedditch; chamber Deputy Chairman Tony Bale;  and CEO of Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays Robert Cocco. Photo credit: Paul Gellatly

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Australians love having fun in the sun and a Mackay business is dedicated to ensuring that they do it safely.

Terri Thompson started the Dirty Oar, a line of sun-safe outdoor apparel, after she was diagnosed with skin cancer in early 2021, not long after having her first daughter.

“I was operated on twice as they didn’t get it all the first time,” she said.

“It was really hard.

“Having a newborn, being up all hours of the night, my husband had to take time off work to help me out.

“It was a stressful time.”

Around six months later, Terri had a lightbulb moment.

“We wanted to come up with something that could help people and educate people in sun safety, so we came up with family friendly, sun safe fishing shirts,” she said.

“We want to help people not have to go through what I went through.”

The Dirty Oar offers a wide variety of cool and colourful fishing shirts for blokes, ladies and the littlies.

Stickers, hats and stubby coolers are also available, and you can even have custom fishing apparel made to commemorate that mammoth trip to the cape or dress your staff in style.

“It’s fishing apparel but it’s family friendly sun safe apparel, perfect for going camping or trips to the Cape, things like that,” Terri said.

While the business is run predominantly online, Terri will personally deliver throughout Mackay free of charge.

Not only is the Dirty Oar keeping the people of Mackay, Queensland and Australia sun safe, a portion of every sale also gets donated to Skin Cancer Australia.

“I feel we are so blessed to have this opportunity to help others,” Terri said.

Terri says one of the best parts of being a woman in business is being her own boss and having more time to spend with her family.

They’re an outdoors family, thriving when they’re fishing, camping and boating, their Dirty Oar shirts keeping protected from the sun for years to come.

Get To Know Terri

Star sign: Leo

Favourite movie: The Conjuring

Favourite holiday destination: Port Douglas

Favourite Music: Chilled, laidback soft rock (think Jack Johnson and Pete Murray)

Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not worth chasing.

Best piece of advice: Just give it a go. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?

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Funding for youth services in the Whitsundays has been cut significantly this year and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP is concerned about the impact it will have on local initiatives for young people.

Ms Camm believes that youth services need more, rather than less funding for vital programs such as YouthSpace and our dedicated PCYC.

“It is unacceptable that the Government has cut funding by almost 40 per cent at a time when young people need to be our priority,” she said.

“There are services across our region that desperately need more funding and are ready to deliver more support on the ground for our youth - they can’t do this if Queensland Labor continues to slash funding for young people in our region.”

Ms Camm said the Whitsunday electorate has a higher proportion of youths under 18 and under 10 years of age than the state-wide average, with 23.68 per cent of the electorate comprised of under 18s compared with the state average of 22.37 per cent, and 12.45 per cent of the electorate comprised of children aged 10 and under compared with the state average of 11.99 per cent.

She believes that this demonstrates the Whitsunday region should be high priority.

“Today’s youth and the next generation of youth deserve access to critical services,” she said.

“The Whitsunday region is growing at a great rate. Our youth funding allocation should be trending upwards in line with that growth, not taking a 40 per cent dive downward.

“I have written to the Minister requesting full funding be restored in the upcoming budget.”

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Funding for young people is cut significantly

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Have you taken a great photo of beautiful Bowen or the iconic Big Mango?

As part of the Big Mango’s 21st birthday celebrations in May, Bowen Tourism and Business has organised a photo competition.

All you need to do is take a photo of the Big Mango or of somewhere else in Bowen and post it to social media with the hashtag #bowencelebrates.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said they had already received some excellent entries.

“We have some great prizes of accommodation and tours in Bowen and the greater Whitsunday region,” she said.

“We are looking for creative shots of our iconic tourist attraction and beautiful photos of other Bowen landmarks including our eight secluded beaches.

“The Big Mango was named the Top Tourist Attraction in the Whitsundays in 2022 and we are looking forward to showcasing it and all that Bowen has to offer as part of the celebrations in May.”

The photo competition is just one aspect of those celebrations.

Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery said this was just one way the community could be involved in the celebrations.

“We know how proud the local community is of our Big Mango and we witness everyday how much our visitors love our beautiful town and beaches,” she said.

“The #bowencelebrates photo competition is all about celebrating our Big Mango and showing the world how amazing Bowen is.”

Terms and conditions of the photo competition are on the Tourism Bowen website.

The competition closes on May 6

Contributed with thanks to Leanne Abernethy, Manager of Bowen Tourism.

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With Shirlz Russell of Build Your F’empire

Women face many setbacks when they look to save and set up for their futures.

We tend to have lower super balances than our male counterparts, whether that’s from maternity leave or part time work.

Some women start their own businesses, often in motherhood, choosing not to pay themselves super.

Additionally, if going through a divorce, women don’t always come out the other end as well-off as some stories portray.

I think women get the short end of the stick every which way you look, and I have that opinion because I’ve experienced it all.

Build Your F’Empire is all about helping women to create financial independence.

It’s about taking that control and making positive decisions towards building wealth and being able to retire comfortably.

I support other women in whatever roles they play, whether that’s owning a business, having a side hustle, whatever it may be.

I encourage women to own their own space and to promote and support each other.

In a previous role in the solar industry, I was helping people save money; that was my thing and I loved it.

Now, I’m helping people make money and it’s literally changing people’s lives.

It’s pretty hard to not get excited about it.

I’ve always had a really keen interest in property investment, starting on that investing journey personally and seeing great results.

I saw an opportunity to bring a female focus to an otherwise male dominated space and I took it with both hands.

It came at a time when I needed to spend more time with my family and now, I find incredible satisfaction in helping other women achieve the same.

I’ve literally had many of financial setbacks I’m here to say you can turn your life around and take control.

I’ll be sharing my thoughts in Mackay Life monthly, so make sure check in with me on the first Friday of every month as I share my journey as a woman in business.

Read on to find out a bit more.

Star Sign: Aries and Taurus cusp – either way, I’m very headstrong.

Favourite Holiday Destination: Tasmania

Favourite Music: P!nk

Favourite quote: It is what it is.

Something most people don’t know about me: I’m a qualified dressmaker.

Female Role Models: I am fortunate to have many what I would call surrogate mothers. I have lots of women that I look to and think of as a mother even though I have the most amazing mother myself.

Best piece of advice: Whatever it is you decide to do, invest in something. You won’t be able to save your way to retirement. You need to invest in an asset that will grow.

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The Wilmar grower marketing team has been busy talking to growers about the great prices on offer for the upcoming season and beyond.

It is good to see growers continue to average up their forward prices as the market posted new season to date highs over the last month.

The 2023 crop traded to a high of $665 and 2024 to $585. The outlook remains tight for the global sugar supply and demand equation.

With the northern hemisphere crops cutting out a bit quicker than anticipated, there is even more necessity for the upcoming Brazilian crop to get on the water as soon as possible.

Add in a volatile AUD, thanks to the recent financial uncertainty, and there may be the opportunity to see those prices again.

The high prices are also benefiting the tail end of 2022 pricing. For growers who have allocated tonnes to the Production Risk Pool, the forecasted price as at the end of February was just over $690/t Actual.

Similarly, growers who are using the GMPRS pricing mechanism have been able to lock in prices above $700/t Actual for any tonnes not yet priced.

One of the initiatives this year has been the introduction of grower shed meetings to give growers an update on factors that are affecting the price of sugar, as well as a reminder of other marketing products and services.

In the Mackay and Whitsunday regions, our local marketing consultants Angus McKerrow and Shirley Norris have been organising small groups of growers and presenting the latest Wilmar research on trade flows and market outlooks in an informal and interactive way.

It has also been an opportunity to remind growers that our Pre-Season Payment option remains open until May, for growers who need to boost their cashflow prior to harvest commencing.

From all reports, growers appreciate the sugar market information and enjoy the catch-up with some of their neighbours.

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Wilmar’s Proserpine Grower Marketing Consultant Shirley Norris addresses growers at a recent shed meeting

Wilmar’s Plane Creek Grower Marketing Consultant Angus McKerrow explains premiums to growers at a recent shed meeting

The introduction of shed meetings has created an opportunity for growers to get the latest sugar market information and socialise with neighbours

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Youth representation in our region is in safe hands thanks to the recent announcement that Year 12 Proserpine State High School Captain, Sam Rogers, will be the next Queensland Youth Parliament Member for the Whitsundays.

This exemplary student not only excels academically, but he is also a kind and passionate person who will put the needs of our region first as he heads down to the Brisbane Parliament later this month.

Sam said that it is early days, and he still has a lot to learn about the role, but he is excited for the adventure that lays ahead over the next six months.

“I’m really excited about going through the whole process and learning how parliament structure works,” he said.

“I’ve been assigned the rural and agriculture bill so that ties in nicely with our region and hopefully I can assist with some of the issues we face.”

During his tenure Sam has the opportunity to engage with other youth members from across the State to gain insights into how legislation is developed, and he will have the opportunity to engage with stakeholders from his portfolio of manufacturing, resources, agriculture, trade and investment.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP will be guiding Sam through the process, and she says she is thrilled to be part of his journey.

“Sam is an incredibly talented young man who has already proven his capability and leadership,” she said.

“I'm excited to see Sam will bring to the Youth Parliament.

“This role is critical because youth represent a large proportion of our community and there is a significant amount of legislation that impacts young peoples' lives every day.”

Sam has already achieved more than your average teenager – he recently returned from America where he presented his robotic arm electronic sorting system in front of a panel at the Association for the Advancement of AI Summit in Washington.

He has also just flown back from Sydney where he was the keynote speaker at the National AI Conference and spoke in front of industry leaders, politicians and entrepreneurs.

During his travels, Sam says he has met many amazing people and established connections that will open doors for him the future.

For now, however, he is excited about making friends with his fellow youth parliament members, more connections that he is sure will benefit everyone in the future.

“It will be great to meet a lot of like-minded people,” he said.

“I am looking forward to thinking about the world and how we can improve it.”

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Youth Parliament Member for Whitsunday, Sam Rogers, with Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP. Photo supplied

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Do you know why Post Graduate Training in an Automotive Facility is so Critical?

Interestingly a recent question posed by a Local Leader in the Training industry prompted this article.

How as an employer do I bridge the gap in training modules from what is learned in an Panel Technician Apprenticeship? To what is required in the industry today?

This question highlights a number of issues - the most important one:

There is a GAP:  Noting that there is no requirement as a business owner that I must provide additional training beyond that of an apprenticeship.

My organisation understands that as the technology in today’s vehicle expands to include Aluminium and Structural Steels – lightweight for improved fuel efficiencies - Hybrid and Electric Vehicles and their complexity and workings, we must continue to advance our skill set.

Since the introduction of I-Car Australia in 2006 we have provided post graduate training for our team so they could understand the intricate nature of what was coming.

This is an organisation dedication to Safe and quality repair of each and every vehicle.

Core modules required to complete a Panel Technician Apprenticeship Cert III have changed to incorporate some of this required information. The challenge is of course that existing modules need to remain for the foundation of this skill set to remain.

So without increasing the time of the apprenticeship – elective gaps open up.

For us partnering with I-Car allows us to exceed in the training challenge as we send our technicians for additional training to increase skill and knowledge from Welding Certifications, to learning requirements for new technology.

The potential for new pathways is opened with possibility to have individualised Technicians that can take the direction of Aluminium Specialist- or Electric/Hybrid specialist just to name a few.

In my faciality importance is placed on the understanding of the vehicle and why there is a need to fund and make this training available to our team.

Ultimately the consumer should be aware that this is an unregulated industry. There is no license required to own, or operate a Repair Facility. Individual technicians are not licensed.  It Is not even a requirement that there be a qualified technician in a facility. My advice is do some research and make sure you specify your choice when you need a Repairer.

Contributed by Andrea McCarthy from McCarty Panel Works.

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Regular training is essential in any automotive facility

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A veteran Girl Guide leader was congratulated for her 50 years of service to the community group at the Proserpine Guide Hut earlier this month.

A well-known local lady, Cheryl Raiteri, was recognised for her dedication to helping young women and her life-long service to the Girl Guides.

Ms Raiteri started her Girl Guides journey as a Brownie and finished in the Rangers category.

Along the way, she has been a positive role model for many and inspired others to actively participate in helping the community.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP attended the special meeting and said Ms Raiteri was a terrific example of someone who had personally gained so much from giving so generously of her time and knowledge.

“Cheryl has served her community for half a century, giving many girls the wonderful experience of Guiding that she enjoyed as a young lady,” she said.

“She has attended many camps, helped with fundraising efforts, held many positions within the organisation and developed many friendships over her years of service.

“Congratulations Cheryl on reaching this milestone and for your contribution to your community.”

Others acknowledged for their service were Cheryl McBride, a Proserpine district unit leader, who received a 20 years service badge and wattle badge.

Also, Sarah Strohfeldt, a Proserpine district unit helper received a 5 years service badge and Angela Stevens, a Bowen district manager, received a badge and certificate.

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Cheryl Raiteri (centre) is congratulated for 50 years of service to Girl Guides by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP (far right). Photo supplied

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We all know how important our eyes are, but how many of us wear the correct eye protection? With 45% of all head injuries being to the eye, and 90% of eye injuries being preventable with the use of appropriate safety eyewear it is essential that workers have the correct eye protection for their job.

At Get Real Workwear & Safety, our range of safety eyewear meet all industry requirements for protection from sun damage, dust and particles. Our range of glasses offer a wide range of functions from anti-fog to category-specific lenses designed by people who wear safety eyewear and are committed to the highest comfort and function standards.

Whether you are a forklift driver working in a factory with LED lighting, construction operator working outdoors, or behind a computer absorbing blue light from your monitor, there are lenses available for any environment - all with the ability to protect your eyes.

When choosing safety eyewear, it's important to consider both the frame and lenses. The equipment should first and foremost protect from the risks at hand, such as chemical, mechanical, radiation, or other hazards. This does not negate the importance of style and comfort for the wearer.

Some considerations when choosing safety eyewear:

1. Pressure Points: ensure there are no pressure points on your nose bridge, head or behind your ears.

2. Comfort: look for hard and soft components for added comfort for all-day wear.

3. Work type: think about environment e.g., when working around dust and chemicals, choose impact-resistant eyewear like goggles.

Having the right protective eyewear for the job does more for workers than just help them see better: it will help them be great at what they do and unlock their full potential. Ideally, the wearer should forget they are wearing safety eyewear at all, when donning a pair of glasses that combine optimum lenses and frames.

At Get Real Workwear & Safety, we understand that the right safety eyewear is essential to getting the job done safely and efficiently.

Visit Get Real Workwear & Safety at 203-215 Maggiolo Drive, Paget or online at www.getrealworkwear.com.au

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Hi all,

We’ve got so many exciting projects happening at the moment in Division 4.

I’d like to start by thanking everyone who attended the Mullers Lagoon Community workshop on Friday 24 March at the Bowen PCYC.

The session was a valuable conversation which enabled us to collect ideas for the Bowen Masterplan. It also allowed us to see how residents currently use the park, listen to concerns about the Mullers Lagoon area and to get your thoughts on how you would like to see it evolve in the future.

These community consultations are extremely important in enabling Council to consult with the community and take your visions onboard when we create plans for the future. For those who couldn’t make it, you can still have your say on the park’s future via our Online Engagement Portal, Your Say Whitsunday.

Another exciting update is that of the Richmond Road floodway where upgrades to the existing culvert structure are on track, with the road due to reopen to traffic in May.

The new structure has been modelled to cater for 1 in 100-year flows, which should greatly reduce the need to close the road in the future.

The road upgrades should be in their final stages after Easter with the asphalt being laid in late April before line marking can occur in May.

I would like to thank the State Government’s Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme which co-funded these works with Whitsunday Regional Council.

I’d also like to mention the proposed upgrades to the Cape Edgecombe walking trails which have been supported by the Federal Governments Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant Program.

We recently met with early-bird walkers at Horseshoe Bay to advertise the upcoming trail upgrades.

Everyone we spoke to was excited to learn about the proposed improvements.  

The works are set for late 2023 and will rebuild unsafe and eroded areas along the track. The project will occur in stages as funding becomes available, with the initial focus areas being Horseshoe Bay, near the Rotary Lookout and Mother Beddock lookout.  

These works will incur partial closures across small sections of the track, but the remainder of the track will remain open.

Finally, this week Council and Collinsville residents have been working together to move on the flying fox population.

Thank you again to everyone who has been involved with these projects and given their valuable time and opinion to help us create a better region for all.

Cheers, Michelle

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“We have all the parts, but not the people,” is a common declamation of Mackay business owners as they face the continued lack of tradespeople.

Northern Queensland is not alone in experiencing a significant shortage of skilled workers – a lingering challenge for Mackay’s economy and particularly its small business owners.

So, why is that the case?

Some claim a lack of investment in vocational education and training programs is to blame, others that a changing work philosophy has “killed all the carpenters”: young people are resoundingly pursuing other career paths, especially those in the technology industry or office work.

The “university push” has led younger generations to see their future in office space. Yet, all agree that shortage of tradespeople is not only an issue for individual businesses but also has a broader impact on the region's economy.

Businesses are unable to keep up with demand, leading to delays, reduced productivity, and increased costs. An enormous ripple effect on other industries that rely heavily on the skills of tradespeople.

The trades need to survive – their part in the play is as crucial as any – and they’re a pillar of the region's economy.

To address the shortage of tradespeople in Northern Queensland, concerted efforts to invest in vocational education and training programs to bridge the skills gap have been suggested – but what does Mackay think?

Mackay Life newspaper is looking for local comment on the skills shortage across the country.

Individuals or businesses with ideas, comments, or success stories in finding tradespeople can contact declan@mackayandwhitsundaylife.com to help Mackay’s tradie future.

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Mackay is in the grips of a tradesperson shortage – how do we solve it?

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The first Get Set for Work information night ahead of the second intake for the intensive employment and training assistance program for 15- to 19-year-olds was a major success for its facilitators as they record several direct enrolments.

The initiative, which commences this month and will be facilitated once again by Whitsunday PCYC, is aimed at youth who may no longer be enrolled in schooling and are struggling to find employment.

A successful iteration was facilitated in November of last year with four graduates.

Whitsunday PCYC will again facilitate the skills program to continue assisting in the development of “disengaged teenagers struggling for employment” in the Whitsundays.

The inaugural information night showcased to parents, caregivers, and potential participants the benefits of the program through a PowerPoint presentation and industry representative Q&A.

Local industry representatives were Elise Forbes and Chantel Schroeder from Cruise Whitsundays, Lisa McAliece from the Commonwealth Bank’s Cannonvale Branch, Daniel Shipard of Wilmar Sugar, Proserpine, and John Alfonso from The Friendly Grocer in Jubilee Pocket.

The representatives were on hand to “connect the dots” for how Get Set for Work helps participants into their respective industries according to PCYC Branch Manager and Police Sergeant Billy Li.

“We’re very grateful for the support of the industry representatives as well as our event sponsors - Airlie Beach Hotel, Friendly Grocer Jubilee Pocket, and local State Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm MP,” Sergeant Li said.

The program’s next intake begins April 17 and is accepting participants from the Proserpine and Airlie Beach areas.

Get Set for Work is one of eight programs that make up the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

For more information, contact Scott Lynch at scott.lynch@pcyc.org.au

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Whitsunday PCYC’s second Get Set for Work initiative held its program information night last week to great success

Export diversification is a critical aspect of modern agriculture, particularly for small-scale farmers who are often vulnerable to market fluctuations and price volatility.

However, exporting fresh produce like the commodities grown in the Whitsunday region poses unique challenges that must be addressed for farmers to benefit fully from global trade.

One of the main challenges of exporting fresh produce is maintaining quality and freshness during transportation.

Perishable crops, such as fruits and vegetables, require careful handling, storage, and transport to prevent spoilage and maintain their market value.

This requires investments in infrastructure such as refrigeration and cold storage facilities, as well as training and capacity-building for farmers and transporters.

Another challenge is meeting the stringent biosecurity and safety standards of importing countries.

These standards can vary widely, and complying with them can be costly and time-consuming, particularly for small farmers who may lack the resources and technical expertise to meet them.

Governments and organisations such as the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (BGGA) can play a critical role in supporting farmers by providing technical assistance, training, and access to financing to help them comply with these standards.

Over the past month BGGA, along with a number of our local producers have been proactive in seeking new business in new and existing export markets with a recent delegation to New Zealand and completion this week of our Japanese agricultural exchange student project to enhance trade relations with Japan.

New Zealand, although small in size, offers a range of benefits as a destination for produce from our region with gaps in their seasonal production aligning with our peak in production as well as relative ease in supply chain access and a trade culture supporting safe and ethical business practices.

Japan on the other hand offers immense opportunity due to the scale of the market there, high relative income levels, lack of land for domestic food production and cultural embeddedness of value-added fresh food products.

With the myriad of ongoing challenges occurring in domestic production, the pursuit of diversification is crucial for farmers to mitigate risk, and through accessing larger and new export markets, we can start to see a green sprig of opportunities not only for industry growth but empowering local farming businesses that work smarter not harder.

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BGGA CEO Ry Collins with Countdown New Zealand Fresh Produce Manager Monish Gounder at their new Auckland distribution centre. Photo supplied

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