The Blueberry Industry Voluntary Levy System
The Blueberry industry currently has a voluntary levy in place
Unlike most other horticulture industries, the Australian Blueberry industry operates a voluntary levy system for commercial growers to contribute to and it is this fund which pays for all of the promotional activities designed to help to grow the demand domestically for fresh Australian blueberries, the inmvestments into research and devlopment, as well as other industry priorities like export market access.
In late 2019, a Collective Industry Fund (CIF) arrangement was agreed with Hort Innovation to allow the research and development component of the levy collected by the ABGA, voluntarily paid by some growers, to receive matched funding from the Australian Government.
At present, the levy is only paid by a small proportion of the commercial businesses currently growing blueberries. These companies do represent a larger share of the volume of production, but they are nonetheless shouldering the cost of industry development unfairly.
The rate of levy is normally charged at 7c per kilo of fresh fruit sold – regardless of the sales channel.
From 1 August 2023 for TWO financial years, the levy will be discounted to 3c per kilo of fresh fruit sold in recognition of the difficult growing seasons experienced in recent years.
Why should you pay the voluntary levy?
The voluntary levies fund all of the essential activities that contribute to the growth of our blueberry industry. Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Maintaining consumption and price through a dedicated marketing campaign
- Supporting growers through the Varroa mite incursion
- Research & development into registered chemicals + IPM + Integrated Disease Management programs
- Achieving export protocols into Vietnam and other Asian markets
- Progressing applications for market access to China and other countries
- Funding our Industry Development Officer
- Funding our Executive Director and support staff
- Communication and engagement with members – industry journal, e-news, website, conference
- Promoting positive industry stories and addressing negative media
- Providing our contribution to Hort Innovation under the Collective Industry Fund which is matched with equal funding used for various industry projects such as managing Chili thrips
How much levy do I have to pay?
Levies are paid at a rate of $0.03/kg fruit sold for the period from 1 August 2023 for TWO financial years.
When do I pay the voluntary levy?
Levies are payable once every financial quarter, see table below for applicable dates:
Quarter |
Period Covered |
Payable by |
|
Q1 |
1 Jul – 30 Sep |
31 Oct |
|
Q2 |
1 Oct – 31 Dec |
31 Jan |
|
Q3 |
1 Jan – 31 Mar |
30 Apr |
| Q4 | 1 Apr – 30 Jun |
31 July |
How do I pay the levy?
Follow the steps below:
1. Prepare a statement with the following information
- Grower Name
- Quarter and dates (e.g. Q2 1st Oct – 31st Dec)
- Number of kg fruit sold in that quarter
- Amount of levy being paid
- Indicate if your agent deducts your levies (if so, include name of agent)
2. Email the statement to the Membership Officer (admin@berries.net.au) who will send you an invoice for payment
3. Pay your levy to the ABGA account as indicated on the invoice you receive
Please ensure that you include a reference: GROWER NAME and Financial Quarter (e.g. “Joe Bloggs Q2 levy”)
My agent deduct levies – what do I need to do?
Send the Membership Officer a statement as per steps 1 & 2 above.
She will then check that the agent has paid the levy.
What about confidentiality of the information provided?
Any information provided will be kept entirely confidential and is only collected for the purposes of adminstering the voluntary levy collection process.
I need help, who do I contact?
Complete the form below to get assistance from the Membership Officer
