Small wineries worried about ‘onerous’ costs of consumer recycling scheme
Container Deposit Schemes are loved by consumers for getting a little cash back, but wineries say the financial and administrative burden outweighs any environmental boon. ⌘ Read more

Quirky avocados with ‘bumps, lumps and butt cheeks’ causing chuckles
Avocado growers in WA’s South West say the oddly shaped fruit popping up on their trees may cause a few chuckles, but that does not affect the taste. ⌘ Read more

Wine body sorry for ‘disappointing’ T-shirts bearing ‘irresponsible’ messaging
The Coonawarra Vignerons, in South Australia’s South East, has deleted a post which attracted controversy for celebrating binge drinking. ⌘ Read more

New mango variety to hit shelves after years of development
The Ruby Gold mango has been produced in commercial quantities for the first time and sellers say they are sure it will be a winner with consumers. ⌘ Read more

Former nurse turns ‘absolute passion’ for lavender into 35-year career
Annemarie Manders reflects on how she became a lavender farmer in the Yarra Valley. ⌘ Read more

Uncertainty for small-scale Tasmanian farmers over new food safety rules
The new regulations would bring Tasmania into line with national standards, but smaller growers are worried they will have to pay the same fees and meet the same auditing requirements as large-scale growers. ⌘ Read more

These trees are usually laden with apples. This year they’re strangely bare
Across the the Blue Mountains, apple farmers are noticing less fruit this season. Some are wondering if it’s linked to varroa mite. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s $4 billion illicit tobacco trade fuels a violent criminal market
Authorities stress the $4 billion figure is conservative, as it does not include illegal vapes and e-cigarettes. ⌘ Read more

Spud King expands empire with $14m orchard deal
WA’s “Spud King” Tony Galati has expanded his empire with a $14 million bid to purchase two South West orchards which will see his business move into apples and avocados. ⌘ Read more

Flower likened to ‘cancer’ for environment still sold at nurseries
The colourful flowers of gazanias might attract you to buy them at a nursery but it is worth considering whether you are getting an invasive weed causing havoc to our landscapes. ⌘ Read more

‘Near black’ flowers that bloom just in time for Halloween
While red roses have their moment on Valentine’s Day, these “black suited” irises come into bloom close to Halloween. ⌘ Read more

Event gives access to small wineries in Tasmania
The owners of around forty vineyards in the south of the state are hoping the weather holds out for the next few days as they prepare to open the gates for the annual Spring in the Vines. ⌘ Read more

GM bananas could soon be for sale in Australia, but will people eat them?
Australia’s first genetically modified banana has been tweaked to protect it from a disease that’s on the verge of wiping out crops around the world. Researchers hope it may be on our shelves by 2027. ⌘ Read more

Father-son team’s hand-picked citrus blossoms brighten cocktails
Farmers and distillers collaborate to capture a delicate flower’s flavour for the boutique drinks market. ⌘ Read more

More Australian-grown coffee on the horizon amid local bean boom
The Australian coffee industry is growing as new varieties become available and local demand increases. ⌘ Read more

Flower growers want imported blooms to carry country-of-origin labels
About half of Australia’s cut flowers are imported, but there is no requirement to add a label informing consumers of their origin. ⌘ Read more

Strawberries hard to come by as weather extremes affect supply
Queensland strawberry growers are finishing their season early due to hot weather, while cold temperatures have delayed ripening in the south. ⌘ Read more

Australian wine labels feeling the pinch as Chinese buy and drink less
Cheaper bulk wine has been struggling in the market, but now even prestigious labels like Penfolds are feeling the pinch off the back of changing drinking habits and a reported crackdown on lavish banquets for civil servants. ⌘ Read more

Cumquat may, these farmers are enjoying ‘anti-retirement’
When Roslyn and Pat McCarthy readied themselves to leave their careers, they were uninspired by spending their “twilight” years on golf courses or bowling greens. Instead, they put their faith in cumquats. ⌘ Read more

Banana industry opposes overseas imports of Australia’s most popular fruit
The federal government will review its quarantine rules after a formal request by the Philippines to import its bananas, but the industry is pushing back. ⌘ Read more

Relief for fruit producers as SA declared free from brown rugose virus
More than a year since South Australia’s $230 million tomato and capsicum sector was plunged into turmoil by the first discovery of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Australia, the state has been declared free of the exotic disease. ⌘ Read more

Customers face empty shelves as farmers battle potato shortage
South Australia produces 80 per cent of Australia’s fresh potatoes, but extreme weather and drought across the state are causing a major shortage. ⌘ Read more

Winery sells country’s first drop in an aluminium bottle to cut emissions
A Victorian company releases Australia’s first aluminium wine bottles to reduce its carbon footprint, while acknowledging drinkers may take some convincing. ⌘ Read more

Winemaking music lover to focus on health after blood cancer diagnosis
WA vigneron Rob Wignall, who built a legacy of award-winning Great Southern wines and star-studded music festivals, says it is time to move on. ⌘ Read more

Brisbane roastery wins gold at national coffee competition
Coffee Mentality founder Ian Abadiano spills the beans on what it takes to stand out in Australia’s competitive coffee industry. ⌘ Read more

Outback gardeners share the joys of turning dust to daisies
Flower farmer Suzanne Stanton says generations of outback women have taken comfort in their gardens, proof that life can survive in the harshest of climates. ⌘ Read more

Agritourism expansion leaves NSW winery facing $150,000 land tax bill
Revenue NSW hits a Mudgee winery with a $150,000 land tax, despite the property being exempt for almost 50 years. ⌘ Read more

Wineries and distillers not happy about recycling scheme expansion
Producers in Western Australia’s premier wine region say the state government’s expanded bottle recycling scheme is set to cost them millions of dollars. ⌘ Read more

World wine award for Tasmania
A wine from the Coal River Valley has been named the Best White Wine in the world at the International Wine Challenge held in London. ⌘ Read more

Winemaker shares devastation after lithium battery fire guts warehouse
A long-time winemaker says he opened his door to explosions and a black ball of smoke as a fire caused by a cordless screwdriver destroyed a lifetime collection of tools and machinery. ⌘ Read more

Pandemic distance did not stop father and son starting wine label
When pandemic border closures separated a father and son, they launched a wine label together. Now they are back in the same state and working closely together. ⌘ Read more

School pivots to teach large-scale veg production for changing climate
Home Hill State School in north Queensland is showing students across Burdekin shire how agricultural education is worth investing in, setting up an industry-scale greenhouse for horticulture training. ⌘ Read more

Vegetable growing awards
A north west Vegetable growing family has taken out the major award and a second award at the annual Harvest Moon Presentation. ⌘ Read more

Tomato growers back in business after catastrophic virus outbreak
After 12 months without income, three SA tomato growing businesses hit by an exotic virus have been given the green light to resume trading. ⌘ Read more

Aussie apple exports to Canada easier as restrictions relaxed
Australia apple growers will have easier access to the Canadian export market following trade negotiations between the nations. ⌘ Read more

ACCC accuses four Aldi vegetable suppliers of fixing prices
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission accuses growers of forming a cartel to fix prices of vegetables supplied to Aldi in three states. ⌘ Read more

Grounds from your morning coffee are helping to reduce emissions
Melbourne’s love affair with coffee is causing thousands of tonnes of ground coffee waste — leading to methane emissions. One social enterprise is tackling this, combining it with animal waste — another large emitter — to improve sustainability. ⌘ Read more

Veggies and herbs you can easily grow from seeds
Growing edible plants from seeds can be cheaper than buying seedlings. Here are some of the easiest varieties to grow — plus thrifty ways to find them. ⌘ Read more

Small vineyard with a major trophy
Surprise trophy win for small Tasmanian vineyard ⌘ Read more

For the first time, Americans will experience this homegrown WA apple
A homegrown West Australian apple makes its debut in American supermarkets, with the first shipment to China due to leave next year. ⌘ Read more

Barossa mirco-winery, Ballycroft, powered by a second-hand EV
A micro-winery in the Barossa Valley has achieved a world first in their efforts to keep the vineyard eco-friendly. ⌘ Read more

Adelaide leads the charge to replace single-use fruit stickers
A Riverland citrus grower has started using laser printing on fruit eliminating the need for traditional stickers. ⌘ Read more

Illicit tobacco crop worth $4.4m discovered near Shepparton after tip-off
Authorities seize a 20-tonne crop of mature tobacco being grown on 2.4 hectares, an area equivalent to more than 450 tennis courts, in Victoria’s north. ⌘ Read more

Coffee prices up to $12 needed to make industry viable, supplier says
US tariffs and supply issues are creating uncertainty for an already strained coffee market, and roasters say it’s only a matter of time before Australians will pay more for their brew. ⌘ Read more

Queensland College of Wine Tourism rescued from closure
Business leaders will work to ensure the Queensland College of Wine Tourism will thrive after months of uncertainty about its future. ⌘ Read more

Wine giant’s shock closure of Banrock Station end of a ‘fantastic marriage’
A global wine giant will close two well-known cellar doors in South Australia’s key wine regions, creating uncertainty for staff. ⌘ Read more

Can Australian coffee beans compete in an international roast?
Farmers are teaming up with roasters and scientists to perfect the Australian coffee bean. ⌘ Read more

First ever vintage at new Tasmanian winery
Tasmania’s newest winemaking operation has passed its first test, processing its first ever vintage. ⌘ Read more

Citrus producers hopeful for bumper harvest after tough seasons
Citrus growers are looking forward to a bountiful season in 2025, with hopes it could even become a record-breaking export year. ⌘ Read more

Migrant families transform tiny valley into Italian wine hub
Victoria’s King Valley, once home to post-war Italian tobacco farmers, is earning global recognition for its climate-resilient Italian grape varieties. ⌘ Read more