NT Farmers rejoins AUSVEG

The Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers) has resumed its membership with AUSVEG, the national industry representative body for vegetable growers.

One of the territory’s leading mango, tomato and cucumber growers, Michael Quach, was nominated as the NT representative for the AUSVEG board to ensure the Northern Territory’s vegetable industry is well represented on issues of national importance.

AUSVEG Chair Geoff Moar welcomed the move, highlighting the region’s growing importance to the national agriculture industry.

“AUSVEG has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with NT Farmers, in particular with its board and with newly appointed CEO Greg Owens, who is a popular figure in the vegetable industry and a longtime, influential contributor on many vegetable industry advisory panels,” said Moar. “This decision by NT Farmers will ensure the Northern Territory’s vegetable industry is well represented on issues of national importance and I am looking forward to working with NT Farmers President Simon Smith, CEO Greg Owens and newly appointed AUSVEG Director Michael Quach to ensure their growers’ thoughts and concerns receive strong national representation, on top of the excellent work performed on their behalf by NT Farmers.”

NT Farmers President Simon Smith agreed that the decision to renew the membership comes at a time when the horticulture industry has a huge potential for growth.

“Horticultural production in our region is booming, with the Northern Territory’s proximity to Asia and the increasing demand from its emerging middle classes for high-quality produce also providing a potentially lucrative market for our growers beyond our shores.

“We recently had the AUSVEG chair, deputy chair and CEO visit some of our leading producers to understand the difficulties that growers from the Northern Territory are facing. It became clear that our growers face significant challenges due to the extreme climate and isolation, but that there are many similarities to those facing growers all around the country,” said Smith.

He concluded by praising AUSVEG’s long-term success in representing Australian vegetable and potato growers, and NT Farmers look forward to being a part of this national representation.