Elders Chief Operating Officer Mike Guerin and AUSVEG Chief Executive Officer Richard Mulcahy today announced that AUSVEG and Elders have forged a new strategic partnership.

Elders is Australia’s leading rural services organisation and its new strategic partner, AUSVEG, is the national peak industry body representing the interests of 9,000 Australian vegetable and potato growers.

‘This represents a great opportunity for the Australian vegetable and potato industry to cooperate on a new level which will benefit the whole of industry,’ said Mike Guerin.

‘We are impressed with the advances that AUSVEG is taking within the horticulture industry and are delighted to be forging even closer links with them over this coming year’, he said.

The partnership will result in close collaboration between the two organisations on issues specific to the horticulture industry and enable growers to share in the collective expertise of the organisations.

‘We are proud to be a part of this exciting new partnership with Elders, one of Australia’s most respected and successful rural organisations,’ said Richard Mulcahy.

‘Elders has a long and proven history of supporting Australian growers and this partnership is yet another indication of their commitment to our industry,’ he said.

AUSVEG Chairman John Brent welcomed the partnership, ‘The AUSVEG Board believes this is a very significant partnership for both AUSVEG and the $3.7 billion wholesale Australian vegetable industry,’ he said.

Research and development initiatives will also form a key focus for the partners with Elders to be involved in a number of industry events planned to take place over the next 12 months.

Elders has identified horticulture as a key growth platform for their business, recognising the opportunity that the vegetable industry presents to Australia’s agribusiness sector.

Elders will also play a key role in the inaugural AUSVEG National Convention and Trade Show, and National Awards scheduled to be held in Queensland in June 2010.

MEDIA CONTACT: Hugh Tobin, Communications Manager, AUSVEG
Phone: (03) 9544 8098, Mobile: 0431 939 920, Email: hugh.tobin@ausveg.com.au

AUSVEG website www.ausveg.com.au Elders website www.elders.com.au