LOCAL produce growers have been called upon by the Liberal candidate for Nicholls, Steve Brooks, to speak up on the Department of Agriculture’s risk assessment which gave a tentative green light to the importation of fresh apples from a new origin.
“Local growers have told me they are deeply concerned since they became aware of the Federal Department of Agriculture’s draft risk assessment”, Mr Brooks said.
“In my discussions with the peak body Fruit Growers Victoria, they describe the biosecurity risks of these imports as ‘extreme’.”
Growers are most concerned that there are 24 pests and diseases infecting overseas apple orchards which are not found here. This is acknowledged in the Department of Agriculture’s draft report. At the top of the risks list is Fire Blight, the incurable apple and pear disease.
“We are fortunate to be an island continent that makes it harder for the world’s pests and diseases to fly to or be blown here. However, bringing in containers of fresh fruit from diseased orchards is inviting trouble,” Mr Brooks said.
Mr Brooks said the 24 potential new pests and diseases from the proposed new importing origin include fruit fly, apple maggots, gall midge, apple mealy bugs, apple blotch fungi, as well as the Fire Blight bacteri, which all require toxic sprays to control them.
“The Department of Agriculture has not yet handed down its final report. It is still not too late for our local growers and Councils to voice their concern and I urge them to do so,” said Mr Brooks.
