Issue No 5, January 1996.

NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the Advice on Publications Available.

16. Organisations and Associations Involved in the Development of New Crops

The Spice Association of Australia

The Spice Association of Australia was formed in 1987 to provide an industry voice for those trading in dehydrated vegetables, herbs and spices.

At that time it was felt that Government Regulatory Policies were beginning to impinge on the trading arrangements of importers, packers, growers and all those trading in dehydrated vegetables, herbs and spices.

The objectives in establishing the association were firstly, to provide a mechanism for industry members to discuss matters of concern and reach a consensus on action to handle specific issues and secondly, to provide a spokesperson to communicate on behalf of the members.

The spokesperson for the Association is the Executive Chairman, Mr Bernard Holt, who has had 15 years experience in the food industry as Executive Director of the Grocery Manufacturers of Australia.

The priority areas for the Association are:

Government and media representation,
industry promotion,
liaison with CAFTA,
the Food Industry Council and CSIRO,
packaging and labelling problems,
quality control, and
industry information and research.

Members can access industry information and research findings through a number of publications available through the Association.

The Association provides an informal network among members who meet every two months or as circumstances require. Corporate membership is $1500 per year; 'Library' membership is $50 per year. 'Library members' receive copies of all correspondence sent to corporate members and are able to attend meetings, but cannot vote.

For further information, contact:

Bernard Holt
Executive Chairman
The Spice Association of Australia
PO Box 104, St Leonards
NSW 2065 Australia

Amaranth Institute

The Amaranth Institute is a non-profit organisation that exists to facilitate exchange of information among those who are interested in amaranth.

Members include farmers, educators, researchers, food ingredient processors, health food professionals and industry representatives. Members receive the annual newsletter, 'Legacy', notice of meetings relevant to amaranth and discounts on selected publications. Membership is $US10 for individuals and $US30 for Institutions or Companies, payable for a financial year (renewed July).

For further information contact:

Jim Lehmann
Treasurer, Amaranth Institute
PO Box 248
Bricelyn, MN 56014 USA

California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.

The Fullerton Arboretum
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, California 92634 USA

This organisation is a non-profit organisation founded in November 1968 by John M. Riley and Paul H. Thomson.

For further information contact:

Sue Irvine, CRFG
Administrative Assistant
9872 Aldgate Avenue
Garden Grove, California 92641 USA
Telephone: +1 714 638 1796

Rare Fruit Council of Australia Inc.

The Council was formed in Cairns, North Queensland in 1979 and now has further branches in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

The aim of the Council is to promote the introduction and culture of rare and exotic fruits and vegetables from all over the world, both on a domestic and commercial scale. The Council is also involved in collecting, correlating and disseminating useful information on the cultural and marketing aspects and the distribution of varieties to members.

Members attend local meetings and receive the bi-monthly Newsletter, 'The Exotics', which contains technical and informative articles on rare tropical and sub-tropical fruits. Membership costs AUS$35 per year within Australia and AUS$46 per year for overseas members. Life membership can be obtained by paying 15 times the current annual membership rate.

For further information contact:

Rare Fruit Council of Australia, Inc.
PO Box 707
Cairns, Queensland 4870

Seed Savers Network

Seed Savers Network is the public organ of the Seed Aid Trust which has the following charitable and educational objectives:

to develop and promote the following:

educational programs for the preservation of open-pollinated seeds and the genetic diversity of plant varieties,
non-profit seed exchange programs,
agricultural and horticultural programs with particular emphasis on the propagation of open-pollinated plant varieties,
preservation gardens for open-pollinated varieties,
seed banks for non-hybrid plant varieties, and
scientific research relating to the above matters, either alone or in conjunction with universities or other research institutions.

and to provide the following:

financial assistance to community development projects locally and overseas, and
open-pollinated seed stock to individuals, groups and communities.

Seed Savers Network is a non-government organisation supported totally by public subscription and the work and goodwill of the participants.

For further information contact:

The Seed Savers Network
PO Box 975
Byron Bay, NSW 2481 Australia
Telephone: (066) 856 624
Facsimile: (066) 856 624
International Telephone: +61 66 856 624

New Zealand Tree Crops Association, Inc.

The association is a group of people interested in productive trees, particularly those bearing crops of fruit, nuts, animal fodder, etc., and especially new and unusual trees.

The objectives of the Association include the following:

to encourage investigation into tree cropping, especially into new crops and cultivars,
to investigate and promote the benefits of tree cropping to improve the environment,
to disseminate information on tree cropping, and
to stimulate interest in tree crops generally.

'Tree crops' include those crops, from trees, which provide fruit, nuts, timber, fuelwood, livestock fodder, bee forage, etc.

Activities include publication of the journal, 'The Tree Cropper', meetings, field days, access to extensive resource materials, including publications specifically produced on behalf of the Association and access to planting materials.

For further information contact:

Ms Bronna Brown
National Secretary
New Zealand Tree Crops Association
PO Box 24, Port Chalmers, Otaga, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 3 472 8777

Subscriptions: $NZ25 per year

Hugh Wylie
Treasurer
New Zealand Tree Crops Association
RD 2, Kutarere, Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter

Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email: r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au

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originally created by: GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF