Australia: Vegetable trends on show at expo

Thousands of growers and visitors from around the world travelled to Werribee to see the National Vegetable Expo this week. The expo ran yesterday and today at the DPI vegetable trials site on Dairy Rd. The event attracted 11 seed exhibitors and 64 machinery displays. New varieties of lettuce, broccoli and Chinese vegetables were on display.

Expo chairman Les Giroud said yesterday's crowd was the biggest he'd ever seen at the event, which is held every two years. "There were people from South Africa, New Zealand and all the States,'' he said. "We've had good weather to help us. The 10 days over 30C in March brought things along well, and did more good than harm.

"What also helps is the ability of the seed companies to keep up to date with technology and new varieties.

"For example, this year there is far less iceberg lettuce, because the trend is coloured lettuce. Everyone wants fancy lettuce.''

Mr Giroud said growers has shortened the maturity stage for most varieties, which made it easier to make sure all grower plots reached maturity on time for the expo.

"There is so much work involved in the timing of this exhibition,'' he said.

"It is no easy feat to have hundreds of varieties comes together at once.''

The expo is the only national show if its kind in Australia.

It's current DPI site is in limbo, with pressure from land developers meaning this may be the last year the expo and yearly trials can be held there.

"It more important it seems for the land to be developed for light industrial housing and recreation,'' Mr Giroud said.

"And I doubt there's any place for us to move because of the amount of space we need to put this event on.'

Source: weeklytimesnow.com.au