AUSVEG and Australian Garlic Industry Association join forces

AUSVEG and the Australian Garlic Industry Association (AGIA) have announced a strategic alliance, as the two organisations “join forces for the benefit of all vegetable growers nationally”.

According to a statement, the alliance will further strengthen and consolidate advocacy efforts within Australia’s wider vegetable industry. It will facilitate the sharing of expertise and resources to achieve positive outcomes for growers represented by the two organisations.

The alliance is said to be the result of significant consultation between AUSVEG and AGIA and ensures both organisations retain their distinct status and identities, to continue delivering services and programs for their respective grower bases.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote says the agreement between AUSVEG and AGIA is a welcome development and another step forward in the bringing together of similar but distinct horticulture industries.

“Coming off the back of AUSVEG’s merger with Onions Australia last year, this alliance with AGIA is another opportunity to expand our advocacy to government, and other stakeholders, on behalf of the wider vegetable industry,” he says.

“There are growers producing variations and combinations of vegetables, potatoes, onions and garlic, so this alliance makes sense. By leveraging the expertise and experience of our two organisations, there’s a lot of potential to make more headway on the specific issues the growers we represent are facing, as well as the challenges confronting the wider sector.”

AGIA Chair John Olliff says the strategic alliance is an opportunity to achieve mutually beneficial improvements for growers represented by the two organisations.

“Australian garlic growers are dealing with many of the same issues as growers in the wider vegetable industry, so this alliance with AUSVEG is a logical step,” he says.

“By joining forces, we can capitalise on the extensive advocacy program already being run on behalf of vegetable, potato and onion growers, leverage the many resources and services, while also strengthening the voices and advocacy footprint of Australia’s garlic growers.”

The strategic alliance between AUSVEG and AGIA will take immediate effect.