Blueberry Voluntary Levy Updated for 2025-26

Dear Australian blueberry grower,

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the blueberry industry through the payment of your voluntary levy.

As you may recall, the ABGA committee, which is made up of growers like you, reduced the levy from 7c/kg to 3c/kg for two financial years commencing 1 August 2023. As we approach the end of this period, and recognising the challenging weather conditions of late, the ABGA has opted to set the levy at 5c/kg rather than revert to the previous 7c/kg rate.

The committee has elected to maintain a voluntary rather than compulsory levy to ensure levy payers have full control over how their funds are spent which means we can continue to amend the levy rate according to the needs of the industry. The committee takes its financial responsibilities seriously and as such needs to set the levy to ensure priorities such as export and marketing can be maintained for the sustainable benefit of all growers.

In addition to our ongoing commitments, the ABGA is paying legal fees to contest the determination that nets and tunnels are farm buildings. This has significant implications for all growers.

The ABGA was also able to demonstrate to the NSW government, through a comprehensive submission, that the proposal to require development approvals for nets and tunnels in the Nambucca Shire would have an overly detrimental impact on the right to farm. Funding for these types of activities could not be funded through a statutory levy.

Please contact Rachel Mackenzie or James Kellaway if you would like more information regarding these issues.

The APVMA has also significantly increased the data requirements to maintain minor use permits and the trials needed to be funded through the levy. In this instance we have been able to leverage matched funding through our collective agreement with Hort Innovation. However, there is still a requirement for the ABGA levy to commit to more than $200,000 to support this vital activity.

In the last five years, the ABGA has made significant investments in export development as well as marketing and industry development. The blueberry levy also enables us to fund our Blueberry Industry Development Officer. If you receive the Australian Berry Journal and The Burst or access chemicals on minor use permits, then you are benefiting directly from your levy contribution.

Please see the attached information sheet on levy investments and how to pay directly. We understand that many of you pay via your wholesaler or marketing entity so there is no need to do anything new in that case.

The ABGA reviews the levy amount regularly, and we strongly encourage any grower who wants to be more involved to consider nominating for the ABGA committee.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Bell
ABGA President