BERRYWORLD Australia, just six months after announcing launching its innovative packaged strawberry range, has launched premium raspberries.

Grown under polytunnels at Stanthorpe, southern Queensland, BerryWorld's first raspberries arrived on supermarket shelves in mid-January. 

Raspberries are the second of three berry lines to be produced by BerryWorld Australia – a joint venture between leading fruit producer Piñata Farms and global berry brand, BerryWorld Group. Blackberries will follow in 2020.

BerryWorld Australia managing director Gavin Scurr said a small volume of raspberries was being picked, with a progressive increase in volume expected in coming months.

"As this is our first crop, we wanted to produce during the traditional Australian raspberry season (November to March), which is the ideal time, climatically, to grow raspberries,” Mr Scurr said. “It makes sense to work with known conditions and market forces. Summer is also when consumers are accustomed to looking for raspberries.
"We'll also be producing raspberries past the traditional peak and leading up to winter. We expect this may be more challenging in terms of conditions, yet we hope consumers will be excited about having quality fresh raspberries for longer."

Mr Scurr said the Australian raspberry scene had changed significantly in recent years and there were more opportunities for producers than ever to shake up the category.

"Raspberries have never been more affordable,” he said. “Sales have traditionally reflected the differences in supply volumes but, with supply being stronger than ever, sales have been competitive.

“There are also several new category entrants, including BerryWorld, driven by the desire to extend the seasonal availability of raspberries for the domestic market.

"This landscape presents us with a chance to change the consumer's perception that Australian raspberries lack flavour and are too expensive.”

BerryWorld Group chief executive officer, Adam Olins, said BerryWorld had a track record of building successful businesses outside the UK.

"We saw an opportunity in Australia for better tasting berries and, in Gavin Scurr, a partner with a similar vision,” Mr Olins said. “Being able to bring our proprietary genetics to the Australian market gives us an opportunity to develop a top tier, quality raspberry offer.

"Our proprietary raspberry varieties have won awards across Europe and we feel Australian consumers will love them as well. Bringing raspberries into the mix expands our branded offer beyond strawberries and gives consumers the opportunity to buy into a broader BerryWorld range.” 

Mr Scurr said BerryWorld Australia was growing a specialty variety from the Edward Vinson breeding program in the UK. The variety is known for its significant flavour attributes.

"It's always flavour first with any fruit we grow and this variety has exceeded expectations for sweetness,” Mr Scurr said. “Consumers will be surprised as there's only a subtle hint of sharpness – quite  unlike other Australian-grown raspberries on the market. We wanted a point of difference with flavour and this variety has delivered.

“BerryWorld raspberries are a classic raspberry red with a glossy flesh. They are firm and have a consistent conical shape. Berry size is comparable or slightly larger than other Australian raspberries.”

Most Australian raspberries are produced in cool-climate regions of southern states with only a small percentage grown in Queensland.

Mr Scurr said BerryWorld raspberries would also be produced at Wamuran on the Sunshine Coast from 2019 and he envisaged contracted growers would produce specialty varieties under licence within two years.

BerryWorld raspberries are available in industry-standard 125 gram clamshell punnets – one of the smallest pre-packs in the Australian fresh retail market – at Woolworths stores in Queensland until May.

www.pinata.com.au

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THE Private Member’s Bill introduced by Federal Member for the Mayo electorate of South Australia, Rebekha Sharkie, should provide legislated protection to small family businesses in a capital intensive industry, such as farming, according to Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell.

The Banking Amendment (Rural Finance Reform) Bill 2018 was introduced to the Lower House on February 27, requesting greater transparency and longer notice periods when lenders make decisions on the conditions of primary producer loan agreements.

“During our Small Business Loan Inquiry, we consulted with a number of small business owners involved in primary production,” Ms Carnell said.

“We identified specific issues associated with lending to primary producers, many of which are family enterprises.

“Unlike consumers, there are currently no regulation protections for small business commercial loans, and there is a significant power imbalance between lenders and farmers. 

“We agree that the threshold for a small farm business debt facility should be revised to $5 million, which is a realistic amount for a primary producer,” Ms Carnell said.

“Lenders should provide borrowers with decisions on loan roll over at least 90 business days before loans mature, so they can organise alternative financing.

“Borrowers also need greater access to information and control in the process of loan security valuation and business reviews.

“This Bill will provide a range of suitable protections for small farm businesses. It reflects the recommendations of the Select Committee on Lending to Primary Production Customers and our Small Business Loans Inquiry.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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SCIENCE FICTION is becoming science fact in Australia’s quest to exterminate so-called ‘superbugs’ that can decimate livestock – now robots are being enlisted into the program.

Australian Pork Limited is being funded to the tune of $1.3 million, under the Federal Government’s Rural R&D for Profit program, to boost Australia's trade reputation by demonstrating the low antimicrobial resistance status of this country’s farm produce. They are using the funds to investigate the use of hi-tech laboratory robots to define the low level of antimicrobial resistance risk in pigs and chickens within Australia’s supply chains. 

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), or superbugs resistant to antibiotics, is a serious global problem that is a major public health issue worldwide,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce said.

“Minimising the development of resistance in livestock and companion animals is an important priority for industry. This research project, led by Australian Pork Limited, will investigate the use of high-tech robots to define the low level of antimicrobial resistance risk in pigs and chickens within our supply chains.”

Laboratory robots can work quickly, precisely and cost-effectively, as part of the industry-wide project to gather information and help farmers demonstrate their low AMR risk status. This is expected to give Australian farmers a competitive advantage internationally.

“Specialised robots will be used to isolate, count and characterise large numbers of bacteria from animal faeces,” Mr Joyce said. “The robots will be used to identify and grow thousands of individual bacteria to determine the presence and distribution of antimicrobial resistance at both the herd and national level.”

Mr Joyce said Australian agriculture was a world leader in the fight against development of superbugs.

“Australia is a global leader in minimising risks of AMR spreading, due to the foresight of the government with industry not permitting the use of several antibiotic classes in livestock,” he said.

Australian Pork Limited CEO, Andrew Spencer said the Australian Government's support for this project, which is significant for both humans and animals, anwould demonstrate livestock industries as responsible citizens.

“The outcome of this project will enable industry to provide hard evidence to back claims and to show leadership credentials, which in an AMR aversive world will be an important point of differentiation,” Mr Spencer said.

He said while there was a limited overlap in antimicrobials between human and animal products it was essential that all parts of the puzzle contribute to the solution.

Mr Joyce said, “The project will help monitor on-farm control measures to reduce the presence of antimicrobial resistant organisms across pork and chicken meat industries, with the potential for the project to be used as a model in other animal sectors and for ongoing surveillance.”

He said the $180.5 million R&D for Profit program was part of the election commitment to increase R&D funding for practical projects, “to increase farmgate returns and capture global market opportunities”.

www.agriculture.gov.au

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WHEN accomplished Australian fruit producer, Queensland-based Pinata Farms launched its new venture BerryWorld Australia, its teams knew they were not faced an agribusiness challenge so much as a retail marketing one.

BerryWorld Australia has been established as a premium brand introducing new breeds of specialty strawberries into the Australian and New Zealand markets.

BerryWorld Australia is a joint venture between global berry breeder and marketing company, BerryWorld Group, and Piñata Farms. It was established in 2016 to grow and market proprietary BerryWorld varieties exclusively in Australia and New Zealand. 

When BerryWorld strawberries landed on supermarket shelves for the first time recently – in a heat-sealed 350g punnet aimed at winning shoppers’ attention, before they have even eaten a berry – they caused something of a sensation.

The square punnets, made of standard 100 percent recyclable PET (polyethylene), present BerryWorld strawberries in a single layer with the barcode at the base for easier scanning. Heat-sealed film is perforated with eight air vents to keep fruit cool and fresh in-store and after purchase.
BerryWorld Australia managing director, Gavin Scurr, said the new line achieved several significant points of difference for strawberry marketing.
“If we’re launching a premium brand, we want as many points of difference as possible, from packaging and presentation, through to berry taste and appearance,” Mr Scurr said.
“Australian strawberries are generally sold in 250g or 450g punnets and there are some 1kg punnets. We’ve decided on a 350g punnet to give Australian consumers more choice. Globally, it’s already a size that is instantly associated with strawberries. We’re confident Australian consumers will appreciate it as a convenient, family friendly size.”
Pre-printed film was also more aesthetically pleasing than labelled lids, Mr Scurr said.
“As few Australian strawberries are consistently sold in heat-sealed punnets, this will be a positive change for strawberry consumers. Heat-sealing, which is standard in berry production throughout Europe, not only keeps fruit fresh, but it is tamper proof,” he said.

PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES

Mr Scurr said the BerryWorld Australia packaging would also deliver production and cost efficiencies and energy savings. 

“Heat-sealing utilises approximately 30 percent less packaging materials than a punnet with a lid.
“Heat-sealing has also been shown to perform slightly better in maintaining fruit weight up to purchase. With strawberries, there’s always a slight margin of weight loss after packing. To achieve the 350g weight by the time of purchase, we allow for loss by slightly overpacking, typically by about 20 grams per punnet.”
Mr Scurr said automated heat-sealing would also create significant production efficiencies in the packhouse because the film could be applied faster.

Once opened, the punnets are not re-sealable. However, re-sealing is an option BerryWorld Australia would consider in the future, Mr Scurr said.
BerryWorld Australia’s raw packaging materials are imported from China and manufactured to specification by Victorian-based packaging producer, Multisteps Industries.
BerryWorld strawberries are grown and packed at Queensland-based Piñata Farms, the growing arm of joint venture company, BerryWorld Australia. A customised production line has been installed at the Wamuran packhouse to pack the specialty berries.
Strawberries are sorted and hand-packed into punnets prior to heat-sealing.

RETAILING ADVANTAGE

BerryWorld Australia negotiated with retail partner, Woolworths, to display strawberries in the fridge section of supermarket outlets, rather than the lounge where other Australian strawberries are displayed.
“Berries last longer if they are chilled,” Mr Scurr said. “Fridge placement is another point of difference. Other future BerryWorld Australia lines, such as raspberries and blackberries, will also be found in the fridge,” Mr Scurr said.

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