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Food-e-News, October 2009

  1. Final Fearne report sets a challenge
  2. Magically diverse food finalists
  3. The great GM debate
  4. CITCSA on an international market mission
  5. Resource kit for employers
  6. Secure your spot at Fine Food Queensland
  7. Keeping SA fruit fly free
  8. Cream of the crop
  9. Food Talk Spring 2009 is out now
  10. A big month for small business
  11. Getting strategic about inventory
  12. Value adding the key to growth

Final Fearne report sets a challenge

South Australia’s food and wine industries have been set a challenge by recent Adelaide Thinker in Residence, Professor Andrew Fearne: "Focus on consumer demands or risk losing your international competitiveness." His final report 'Sustainable Food and Wine Value Chains' has just been released and details that South Australian food and wine faces steep challenges to enhance their strategic thinking and management practices. The report makes five recommendations.

  1. Thought leadership
  2. Integrated market intelligence and consumer insight
  3. Holistic food policy
  4. Education and training
  5. Regional co-innovation clusters

Professor Andrew Fearne's final report: Sustainable Food and Wine Value Chains (pdf, 2.07mb)

Want more details?

Annabel Mugford
PIRSA Value Chain Development Unit
p +61 8 8226 0185
e annabel.mugford@sa.gov.au

Magically diverse food finalists

Caper berries, dessert crackers, A2 milk, grande bocconcini, farmed tuna and wagyu beef are all finalist’s products in this year’s Premier’s Food Awards. South Australia has a dazzling diversity of food and beverage businesses to boast about if these finalists are any indication. Twenty three businesses were revealed at a VIP function at the Colonel Light Hotel and are now in the running to win one of these prestigious Awards. The introduction of the new Value Chain Award has seen impressive industry leaders Robern Menz, Maggie Beer Products, Dalriada and Dover Fisheries named as finalists. Other finalists include first timers Australian Caper Company, Limestone Coast Food Group and Fleurieu Milk Company, alongside previous finalists La Casa Del Formaggio, Tucker’s Natural and Singapore Airlines. Winners will be revealed at the Awards presentation gala dinner on Friday 6 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Full list of Finalists (html)

Want to celebrate the magic?

Sue Rogers
Premier's Food Awards
p +61 8 8226 0458
e pirsa.safoodawards@saugov.sa.gov.au

The great GM debate

The Adelaide Showground Farmers Market is hosting a GM (Genetically Modified) debate at 11.00am on Sunday 11 October 2009 on site in the demonstration kitchen. Expert speakers include plant scientist Professor Mark Tester who will describe his research in applying GM technologies and explains how GM crops might contribute to sustainable and safe agriculture. While other speaker Dr Judy Carman will provide evidence about inadequate safety testing and labelling. Audience questions will be made available at the end of the debate which will be moderated by freelance writer and food and wine editor of SA Life Magazine, David Sly. South Australia has been designated a GM free zone since 2008.

Want to know more?

Zannie Flanagan
Adelaide Showground Farmers Market
p +61 (0) 415 162 037
e zannie@asfm.org.au
w www.asfm.org.au

CITCSA on an international market mission

The Council for International Trade & Commerce SA (CITCSA) is seeking expressions of interest from food producers, suppliers and food service providers to participate in upcoming food market awareness trade missions. The first mission will be to Dubai from 19 to 22 February 2010 in conjunction with Gulfoods with the second mission visiting Singapore from 18 to 22 April 2010 in conjunction with Food Hotel Asia. Both missions will introduce participants to the food and food service markets with industry visits to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and retail outlets, and the sea and air ports.

Expression of interest - Dubai Food Mission (pdf, 229kb)
Expression of interest - Singapore Food Mission (pdf, 359kb)

Want to know more?

Barry Salter
CITCSA
p + 61 8 8300 0110
e barry.salter@citcsa.org.au
w www.citcsa.org.au

Resource kit for employers

An Employer Resource Kit providing a flexible set of tools to help business to recruit, develop, retain and manage their most valuable asset – people - has been developed by the Government of South Australia. The free toolkit is heavily based on the South Australian Government’s Building Business Capability in Workforce Development Program, which aims to encourage and support employers to develop workforce plans to support their business planning to be both productive and profitable. The toolkit comprises information cards, a workforce planning guide and a CD with simple, effective templates and an example case study, which will provide an insight into the planning required to ensure business is ready to address future staffing needs. This toolkit aims to provide guidance to assist business in building and retaining a workforce to grow your business and contribute to a successful future for the South Australian economy.

Want a copy?

Andrew Curtis
PIRSA
p +61 8 8226 0001
e andrew.curtis@sa.gov.au

Secure your spot at Fine Food Queensland

Flavour SA has only a few spaces left to fill for Fine Food Queensland happening 21 to 23 March 2010. The interstate tradeshow is over 3 days, with 8000 buyers attending, offering maximum exposure for food businesses. A prime position has been secured for the South Australian stand. Flavour SA Networking Nights are also back with the next one scheduled to follow the AGM on Tuesday 27 October 2009. The topic of the Networking Night will be the launch of Good Food & Wine at the Adelaide Showground, Goyder Pavilion Mezzanine from 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Recent Networking Night topics have included: Is your business eligible for a complimentary Business Review, and how do you sell your products to a chef?

Expression of interest - Fine Food Queensland (pdf, 106kb)

Want to know more?

Catherine Barnett
Flavour SA
p +61 8 8431 7131
e contact@flavoursa.com.au

Keeping SA fruit fly free

Help protect South Australia's fruit and vegetable industry by keeping the state fruit fly free. People planning to travel these school holidays are reminded to do their bit to keep SA fruit fly free. Fruit and vegetables from interstate must not to be brought back into South Australia. Also anyone travelling into the Riverland with fruit and vegetables purchased elsewhere in South Australia must carry an itemised receipt. The new Plant Health Act, introduced in August, allows for steeper penalties and tougher restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in and out of the state and the Riverland. Individuals caught illegally trafficking fruit and vegetables face on-the-spot fines of $315.

For more information

PIRSA’s Fruit Fly Hotline
p 1300 666 010
w www.pir.sa.gov.au/planthealth/fruit_fly

Cream of the crop

SARDI’s oat team has displayed its prowess in food value chain thinking by releasing a new oat variety that is set to find favour and flavour with consumers and growers alike. The Yallara variety developed over 12 years produces an appealing creamy tasting porridge that has ticked all the boxes for flavour and appearance in sensory testing at Uncle Tobys. This fact combined with its resistance to destructive leaf and stem rust diseases, has potential to reap significant returns for growers. Dr Pamela Zwer of SARDI has lead the national oat breeding program and supported by farmers and government through the Grains Research and Development Corporation, SA Grains Industry Trust and Uncle Tobys.

For more information

Dr Pamela Zwer
SARDI
p +61 8 8303 9485
e pamela.zwer@sa.gov.au

Food Talk Spring 2009 is out now

This Spring Food Talk magazine catches up with Ian Young who contemplates the successful journey of Mexican Express as the Face of food. This issue we also visit the remarkable Flinders Ranges and meet up with three businesses moving forward in the region - Saltbush Livestock, Broughton River Gourmet and Golden North. Kangaroo Island is also highlighted where the food producers are busy attending Taste of Kangaroo Island events and the inaugural experience awards. While the SA Food Centre shows how they can help you with food labelling, release a market intelligence report for the horticulture industry and highlight the great work of the Graduate Access Program meeting up with La Casa Del Formaggio's two graduates.

Food Talk magazine, Spring 2009 (Issue 32) (pdf, 575KB)

Want to subscribe?

Submit your contact details via the subscription form

A big month for small business

Small Business Month is on throughout the month of October 2009. The annual event is offering a program of activities specially designed to support small business. Your small business can discover how to survive and succeed in challenging times by attending the various workshops, activities and networking functions being held across the state. Small Business Month is an initiative of the Department of Trade and Economic Development, in partnership with Business Enterprise Centres and Regional Development Boards.

Want to attend?

To view and register for an event visit www.southaustralia.biz/sbm09

Getting strategic about inventory

Angelakis Brothers, Bellis Fruit Bars, Bickford’s Australia, Blue Lake Milling, Lifestyle Bakery, Maggie Beer Products, Nippy's, Pendleton Fine Foods and Tuckers Natural all participated in a recent SA Food Centre workshop on Strategic Inventory Management. The workshop focused on reducing the number of stock shortages and showed how this can help improve cash flow, reduce procurement costs and be maintained without impacting adversely on customer service. Presented by Wayne McAinsh an expert in manufacturing operations, the workshop was initiated by Linda Kwok, Industry Development Officer for City North.

Want more information?

Linda Kwok
SA Food Centre
p +61 8 348 2482
e linda.kwok@sa.gov.au

Value adding the key to growth

Agribusiness is becoming the ‘new mining sector’ in terms of growth industries in Australia, according to the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). Speaking at the Agrifood Skills Australia conference in Sydney recently, AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said that the agribusiness sector has remained resilient during the global financial crisis when many other industries have declined. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures also show that food manufacturing has increased by 5.4 per cent between June 2008 and 2009. Australia’s agribusiness industry could further increase its percentage share of the world market, if it grows exports through more value adding. The agribusiness sector has the potential to be the best performing industry of the future, as it is essential to everyone’s daily needs, and supplies safe, healthy and sustainable products to the world.

For more details

Australian Food and Grocery Council
p +61 2 6273 1466
e info@afgc.org.au
w www.afgc.org.au