The VFF Horticulture Group was formed in 1994 to provide a united voice for Victorian growers on horticultural issues to all levels of government.
The Horticulture Group represents food producers growing tree fruit, berries, vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, grapes and cut flowers. The Group also represents beekeepers who provide an essential pollination service to the horticulture and grains industries.
The Victorian horticulture sector has over 3700 horticultural business and a farm gate value of around $2.4billion. The industry employees 50,000 full time employees which increases significantly during the harvest period. This makes the industry a significant contributor the Victorian economy particularly in rural and regional areas.
The VFF Horticulture Group policy priorities focus on issues that have a direct impact on farm profitability and works to reduce the compliance burden for producers. These issues include:
- Biosecurity and Quarantine
- Workplace relations and labour issues
- Water issues for irrigators and non-irrigators
- Exceptional circumstances assistance
- Right to farm
- Trade Practices
For around $11 per week you too can be a member - join now!
Without the Victorian Farmers Federation food and fibre producers would have significantly higher input costs. The power of VFF lobbying has brought such benefits as :
- Primary Producer Registration for heavy vehicles and tractors saving producers over $4500 per annum on one heavy vehicle and one tractor
- Ensured horticultural producers continue to have a true piece rate and no overtime for casuals providing a significant labour cost saving for harvest labour
- Ensured continue funding and resources for fruit fly eradication and management programs
- Achieved mandatory country of origin labeling and lobbying strongly for increased enforcement within Victoria
- Over $90m in Exceptional Circumstances Income Support, $46.2 m in irrigation grants and $810m in Interest Grants
- Introduction of labour initiatives including the Working Holiday Marker visa and Pacific Seasonal Worker Program that assists producers secure their labour needs.
- A diesel fuel rebate and access to much cheaper electricity and gas for members positively affecting producer inputs.
While most of these benefits are achieved for all producers in Victoria, it is important that all producers share the costs of providing expert lobbying capacity to continue to achieve policy outcomes that directly affect the profitability of the horticulture sector.
Benefits of being a member of the VFF Horticulture Group:
 | VFF Horticulture Group Achievements (83kb) |
To find out more about joining the VFF Horticulture Group call Member Services on 1300 882 833.
Horticulture Group Structure
| President: | Sue Finger |
| Vice President: | Gay Tripodi |
| Executive: | Owen Brinson Paul Casey |
| Group Manager: | Lis Blandamer |
Horticulture Group Policy Council
| Beekeeper Branch: | Gavin Jamieson |
| Cobram Fruit Branch: | Ray Pool |
| Fruit Growers Victoria: | John Wilson |
| Greater Melbourne Hort Branch: | Sue Finger |
| Shepparton East Hort Branch: | Gary Godwill |
| Hydroponic Farmers Federation: | Tony Spurling |
| TAFCO / Northeast Horticulture Branch: | Colin McCormack |
| Robinvale Branch: | Vacant |
| Sunraysia Branch: | John Piccirillo |
| Sunraysia Citrus Branch: | Susan Chislett |
| Swan Hill Horticulture Branch: | Gaye Tripodi |
| Tobacco & Associated Farmers Co-op: | Colin McCormack |
| Vegetable Growers Association: | Luis Gazzola |
| VFF Processing Tomato Branch: | Vacant |
| Vic Potato Growers Council: | Des Jennings |
| VFF Flowers Victoria: | Owen Brinson |
Horticulture Group President
Susan Finger has had a keen interest in the Victorian horticulture industry for many years. She is a current VFF Policy Council member, and has previously held the position of VFF Treasurer and was the VFF representative on Powerline Bushfire Safety Review – Stakeholder Reference Group. Susan is the Director of Vernview Pty Ltd – a business run in conjunction with her husband David, specialising in fruit growing and packing in the Yarra Valley.
VFF Horticulture Group Conference 2012
This year's conference was held at the All Seasons Resort in Bendigo on 19 April.
Members worked in breakout groups to discuss topics like biosecurity, peri-urban agriculture, food safety and red tape.
Below you can find the President's Report from conference, as well as a range of images from the morning.
| 2012 President's Report (1734kb) |
Horticulture Issues
Recent submissions and government correspondence
Apple imports from New Zealand (b) 
Country of Origin labelling enforcement (416kb) Funding for eradication of Asian Bee (127kb) Benefit Cost Analysis for Queensland Fruit Fly management (38kb)
Recent communications / briefing papers
– The VFF has briefed the Minister for Agriculture on the need for enforcement so consumers can make an informed choice when purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables.Country of Origin labelling enforcement (528kb)
– The VFF Horticulture Group is part of a taskforce reviewing the recommendations to come from the ACCC report into grocery pricing and the Horticulture Code Committees review of these recommendations. Recommendations will go to Minister Ludwig by the end of 2011.Horticulture Code of Conduct recommendations (530kb)
– The VFF is concerned with the cost and burden on growers to meet multiple quality assurance requirements set by major retailers, processors and exporters. The Group has sought the Minister for Agriculture’s support for the introduction of minimum standards being set for horticultural producers to sell producer that provides safe food for consumers. The Group is urging the Minister to raise the issue through the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) process.Simplifying QA systems (100kb)
– The VFF Horticulture Group strong supported continued federal and state funding for the eradication of the Asian Bee. This lobbying resulted in the decision to continue funding for eradication measures.Asian Bee Eradication (532kb)
Horticulture Industry Award 2010
The HIA 2010 was introduced on 1 January 2010. The new award is part of the Federal Government's award modernisation process. The award has a major impact on the industry with changes to overtime for casuals, the piece rate being tied to an hourly rate safety net and changes to ordinary hours of work.
Increasing bee populations
The bee industry has raised major concerns with government regarding two major issues:
- the need for greater access to suitable floral resources on public land. Over the past several years the government has not renewed burnt sites thus lessening the number of available sites for beekeepers and restricting the potential to increase bee populations and
- the continuation of the National Sentinel Hive Project which places boxes in ports to deter the introduction of varroa mite. The mite has the potential to do significant damage to bee populations thus affecting the vital pollination service they provide to the horticulture and grains industries.
QFF Cost Analysis
| GFF BCA Report (b) |
| Fruit Fly Review (b) |
| QFF Management Program (b) |
Horticulture Happenings
| Hort Happenings April 2011 (b) |
| Hort Happenings November 2010 (b) |
| Hort Happenings August 2010 (b) |
Join the Horticulture Group
Flowers Victoria
Victoria leads Australia as a producer of high quality flowers accounting for over 40 percent of the national average.
The industry is a major contributor to the Victorian economy in both the domestic and export markets.
Flowers Victoria is the peak body for Victorian flower growers, florists and other key industry players who are committed to developing and promoting the cut flower industry in Australia and overseas.
Flowers Victoria has developed as the key advocate for the flower growers in all matters relating to the industry including, but not restricted to, industry development, marketing and promotion, quality, distribution, biosecurity, sustainable growing practices and the environment.
Given Victoria's position within the flower industry in Australia, Flowers Victoria is a critical contributor to the national industry and is recognised by Government as a key industry participant, representing flower growers on key organisations.
Flowers Victoria is also half owner of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Staged within the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding south Carlton Gardens, this prestigious Show is well established as a "must see" event.
For more information about Flowers Victoria, please visit www.flowersvic.com.au.
Last updated July 2011
