Committees Table Grape
|
TABLE GRAPE GROWERS / STORE MANAGERS / PRODUCE BUYERS / FRESH PRODUCE MANAGERS 2011 / 2012 Table Grape Maturity Testing We wish to advise that inspections, to ensure table grapes meet minimum prescribed maturity standards, will again be carried out this season at the central markets, wholesale and retail outlets. The inspections will be carried out under the powers of the Agriculture Products Act 1929 by authorised inspectors under contract to McAlpine Management Services P/L and Total Quality Assurance Systems Pty Ltd. The inspections are under the control of the Department of Agriculture and Food on behalf of the Table Grape Industry and are funded by industry through the APC Table Grape Producers’ Committee The inspections will ensure marketed table grapes have an appropriate level of maturity thus providing consumer satisfaction and encouraging repeat sales. For your information attached are the For further information please contact: Lloyd Mason, Manager – Operations, Quarantine WA Department of Agriculture and Food, T: 9334 1800, F: 9334 1888, M: 0404 819 518 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 6th December 2011. Sampling method for minimum maturity compliance The following describes the sampling method used by the APC contracted inspectors when performing maturity testing on table grapes in Western Australia. The method used is the ‘bunch averaging’ method. This method has been agreed with the Table Grape Industry and Department of Agriculture and Food table grape specialists. In grapes, the berries with the least sugar are those at the bottom of the bunch, and berries with the most sugar are those at the top, on the bunch ‘shoulders’. This variability across each bunch, and hence line, explains the difficulty that can be encountered in determining fruit maturity at harvest. So, where sample berries are taken from, can influence the maturity level and taste. The practice of squeezing a single berry onto a refractometer, or of simply taste testing one or two grapes from a bunch, will not give an accurate reading of overall maturity. The sampling method used by the APC for Table Grape Maturity testing takes these variables into account and requires that each sample bunch has 5 berries taken from it –
These berries are then squashed and the resultant juice tested. A number of bunches, at least 3, from each line are sampled in this manner, and the results averaged to give the line result. Depending on the result obtained, further samples may be taken and tested. _____________________________________________________________________ APC Table Grape Producers’ Committee Home Page The APC Table Grape Producers’ Committee was established in 1991 and was the first producers’ committee established under the APC Act 1988. The Committee covers all Western Australian table grape producers, from Carnarvon in the north to Margaret River and Mt Barker in the south. Committee Membership: The Committee consists of seven table grape producers from Western Australia. In line with good Committee governance the Committee strives to achieve a balanced Board, with members possessing experience in a range of areas. Committee members are elected for a three year period, and may apply for re-election once their period of tenure has expired. On expiration of tenure the Commission calls for expressions of interest from growers who might be interested in applying for membership on the Committee. Should you have an interest in applying, please contact the Commission Executive Officer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) who will place your name on a register of interested persons.
Functions: When the Committee was first established table grape producers voted for just two services to be provided under Section 12.1 of the APC Act 1988 and these were:
Committee Activity: Expenditure of Fee for Service funds are mainly directed towards promotion and table grape inspections services. A review of Committee activities can be found in the Fee for Service: The Fee for Service is based on three standard carton sizes, these being: Fee for Service converted to kilogram = $0.007 per kg. Fee for Service Returns are remitted electronically in the To assist in compliance procedures the Committee forwards Fee for Service return forms to producers at the end of each growing season, which producers can then complete and return with their payments. Compliance: The regulations for the collection of WA table grape fee for service are covered by the |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Table Grape Maturity Standards 2011-12
FSS Rates and Return form.