Hort Connections 2023 was brought to an end last night, by hosting a gala dinner as well as industry awards. A complete list of winners are listed below.

This year, the exhibitor’s were talking about how to automate packing lines, grading, and the automation of all information. A lot of them had excellent orchard management systems that included yield statistics and simple payroll software.

Click here for the report on photos

Machine guys are focused on robotics. Work is expensive and time-consuming Human error is common as well as they aren’t able to work for all hours of the day.

Growers shared their experiences of a few difficult years that saw extremely wet conditions in both Australia as well as New Zealand. A grower of New Zealand said the only that they hadn’t experienced was the plague of the flies.

Click here for the report on photos.

The market for onions was strong at both export and domestic however other crops like carrots, and broccoli, were caught in surplus.

Packaging has amazing paper, cards, and fiber-based products. The industry claims it’s an inexplicably slow shift to plastic, but this is actually being observed.

The stands, speakers, along with other products available in our photos review.

The top winners from the Hort Connections 2023 National Awards for Excellence were according to the following:

• Pirrone Brothers in QLD Syngenta Grower of Year
• Robert Arvier, West Pine Ag, Tas – Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year
• Angela Ruffo, Tripod Farmers Group, Vic – Boomaroo Nurseries Women in Horticulture Award
• Frank Frappa, Premier Fresh Australia and Vic – Hort Innovation Exporter for the Year
• Michael Rettke, SARDI, SA Michael Rettke, SARDI Bayer Researcher Of The Year
  
  Bruce Scott, Campbells Fertiliser, Vic – Visy Industry Impact Award
• Allan McGann, drumMASTER (Agsafe), NSW – E.E. Muir & Sons Community Stewardship Award
• Fresh Select, Vic – Butler Market Gardens Environment and Sustainability Award
• Kylie Hall, Hectre, NZ – UPL Tech Innovation Award