As the national representative of around 380 onion growers, Onions Australia is the fourth industry body to co-host the event alongside AUSVEG, PMA Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) and Australian Organic. Hort Connections combines the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh Connections, the premier events of two of horticulture’s leading organisations.

“Onions Australia was a co-host for the National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast this year and we are very pleased that they have come back on board to co-host Hort Connections in 2017,” said AUSVEG National Marketing Manager, Nathan McIntyre.

“The onion industry is Australia’s fourth largest vegetable crop and accounts for around nine per cent of Australia’s total vegetable production. This partnership will allow for a wider range of commodities to be represented at the event and ensure that delegates from across horticulture can network with their onion growing peers and discuss mutual areas of concern.”

Onions Australia Chairman, Peter Shadbolt, said the decision to co-host Hort Connections would further expand the cross-sector credentials of the industry-wide event. “Hort Connections will be the central meeting point for our onion growers to network with their peers from many areas of horticulture, including vegetables, potatoes, fresh fruit, cut flowers and certified organic growers. The ability to participate in an event of this size will provide excellent value for Australia’s onion industry and will ensure delegates can benefit from horticulture’s most celebrated thinkers, meet with leading agribusinesses at an expansive trade show and network with each other.”

“Hort Connections is set to become a truly unified horticultural event and we’re very excited to be working with PMA A-NZ, Australian Organic and Onions Australia to bring this leading event to the Australian horticulture industry,” said McIntyre. “Hort Connections is already attracting attention from local and international industry members and is set to become the most significant horticulture event in the Australasian region.”

AUSVEG and PMA A-NZ are also in discussions with other industry groups to co-host the event in an effort to further unite the horticulture industry.