Ord River melon growers awarded SQF 2000 quality code accreditation

July 1, 1998

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said today the Ord River irrigation area was developing a reputation for its high quality melon industry, with most growers now working towards the adoption of a quality assurance code.

Mr House was at Agriculture Western Australia's Frank Wise Institute in Kununurra to present certificates to the first Kimberley melon growers to achieve SQF 2000 quality code accreditation.

The Minister said it was expected that within two years nearly all of Kununurra's melons growers would have SQF 2000 accreditation.

Today's presentation marked a milestone for SQF 2000. The three certificates presented take to 201 the number of producers and processors accredited in WA.

The SQF 2000 quality code system was developed by Agriculture Western Australia to provide food businesses, including primary producers, with a simpler framework to develop quality management systems to meet customer requirements and foster business improvement.

Mr House said that on-farm quality assurance was particularly important for the Kimberley, because of its distance from its main markets.

"An SQF 2000 accreditation is a further assurance of the supply of a constantly good quality and safe product for the markets," he said.

The Minister said the growth of the melon industry in the Kimberley had been outstanding.

"In the last 10 years the melon industry has become the biggest horticultural industry in Kununurra, and is currently worth about $23 million in production and exports," he said.

Growers who received accreditation today included: Bluey and Kirsten Stoldt, of Bluey's Outback Farm; Dick Pasfield, of Cummings Brothers; and Gabi and Wilhelm Bloecker, of Bothkamp Australia.

Banana and mango growers Jill and Quentin Parker, of Parker Poynt Plantation, received the area's first SQF 2000 certification in Kununurra last January.

Media contact: Julie Cole (08) 9481 2044