Horticulture

Membership » Horticulture

Who We Are

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.

Victoria’s Horticulture Industry

The Victorian horticulture sector has over 3700 horticultural businesses and a farm gate value of around $2.4billion.

The industry employs 50,000 full time employees which increases significantly during the November to March harvest period. This makes the industry a significant contributor to the Victorian economy particularly in rural and regional areas.

Member Benefits

The VFF Horticulture Groups provides a range of member benefits that extend to all areas of your business.

  • Policy Advocacy – Our members are kept up to date with policies and decisions that affect their farm via email, post and through social media.
  • Workplace Relations – Includes 2 phone calls p/a. Option to purchase additional tailored advice at the service rate of $200 (plus GST) per hour.
  • Member Offers – Enjoy a wide range of discounts on energy, insurance, superannuation, accomodation and more.
  • Hort Report – The Hort Report is the official e-newsletter of the group, which keeps members up-to-date on issues, events and current news.
  • Networking and Events – Engage with like-minded individuals, to share and learn from experiences, meet new friends and expand your network.
  • Invitations to Meetings – Invitations to attend VFF branch meetings.
  • Access to Resources – Exclusive access to VFF education, policy and resource material.
  • Voting Entitlement – Provides you with 1 Voting Entitlement per nominee. An account can have 2 nominees.

You must be a VFF member to take advantage of our skilled staff, the power of our united grower network and our extensive range of products, deals and services.

What We Do

Increasingly growers’ rights to practice efficient and effective farming methods are under threat from urban encroachment, access to water pressures, rising energy, rates and insurance costs.

The VFF Horticulture Group policy priorities focus on issues that have a direct impact on farms and works to reduce the compliance burden for producers. These issues include: Labour issues; Biosecurity and Quarantine; Water issues for irrigators and non-irrigators; Exceptional circumstances assistance and more.

The VFF Beekeepers Branch

The apicultural industry is an important player in primary industry in Australia. The industry supports over 200 commodities that rely on honey bee pollination to produce crops.

Alongside their important pollination role, beekeepers derive a large portion of their revenue from producing world class Australian varieties of honey. Australian beekeepers also support apiculture businesses abroad, by exporting packaged honey bees and queen bees to many countries and producing beeswax for cosmetics.

The VFF Beekeepers branch works in conjunction with other beekeeping associations and aims at achieving lobbying wins by showing government we are the voice of Victorian horticulture farmers.

Become a Horticulture member

Join us for a better life and greater future

We are a community of farmers creating a sustainable and socially responsible agricultural industry connecting with all Victorians. To discuss your needs with a Membership Representative call us now on 1300 882 833.