More premium Victorian grown fruit and vegetables are expected to make it onto local supermarket shelves thanks to grants awarded to install new netting on Victorian farms.
The expanded $15.9 million Horticultural Netting Program – funded by the Australian government and delivered by the Victorian government – is now fully allocated with 190 grants delivered to 150 Victorian producers over three rounds.
“The Horticulture Netting Program aids the industry’s recovery from floods, storms, and drought and will also help our growers protect their valuable produce from pests and adverse weather conditions,” says Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence.
The program provided up to $150,000 to producers of commercial horticulture crops, excluding wine grapes, for the purchase and installation of new netting over established production areas.
“Besides protecting produce from environmental damage such as hail and sunburn, horticultural netting helps to keep out some pest animals and can reduce orchard water use by up to 20%,” reads a statement.
“An increase in fruit quality, coupled with reduced impacts from adverse weather and animal damage means more dollars in horticulture growers’ pockets.”