FROM networking and industry updates to innovation and professional development, Hort Connections 2026 once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most important events on the horticulture calendar.

With a very early 6am departure time, the group left Adelaide for a rapid half-day tour. Even though we were all a little sleepy, the bus trip provided great networking opportunities along the way. It was great to tour alongside some absolute industry stalwarts including vegetablesWA Life Member David Anderson, RMCG's Doris Blaesing and AUSVEG's Maya Wallens, who arranged and led the tour. A big thank you to Maya for organising the day.

First stop was Farmer Group in Virginia. Having previously worked closely in the world of potatoes and onions but never seen production on this scale in South Australia, it was a great way to experience the 'SA way'. While the volumes processed each day were impressive, it was interesting to note how similar many of the challenges, programs and solutions are to those we see in WA.

The tour continued to Adelaide University Waite Campus, where we heard about weed resistance research and management. The university team is working to stay ahead of herbicide resistance through research across South Australia and the rest of the country.

On the final leg of the tour, we travelled back to Virginia to visit Ridenti Farms, a multi-generational family business producing potatoes and onions. The scale aligned more closely with that of a medium to large WA business, and the passion and resilience passed through the generations was evident.

Monday afternoon saw AUSVEG deliver The Australian Vegetable Industry Summit. The sessions were packed with useful information and are freely available to view online.

The presentation that really caught my attention was delivered by Carl Larsen and Ben Finkel. While AI can drive major business changes, the presentation demonstrated how small wins, such as creating a to-do list while the kettle boils, can also help unlock valuable time.

vegetablesWA Grower Dinner

That evening vegetablesWA arranged an impromptu dinner for WA growers attending the conference. It was refreshing to see so many familiar faces gathered in one place and even more rewarding to break bread together, something we do not get the opportunity to do very often.

Information Sessions and Marketing Activities

The next day's plenary session explored strategies for increasing fresh produce consumption. The session featured Luke Field from The Wiggles, who discussed the crossover between the Wiggles brand and fresh produce consumption through a new IFPA-led campaign.

The concept of driving multi-generational change through influence was brought to life when Dominic Field, who performs as the Tree of Wisdom in The Wiggles, stepped onto the stage and had a room full of adults singing and dancing to Hot Potato. It was a reminder that influential brands can resonate across multiple generations.

On a side note, my house is very much an active Wiggle Zone, and we are always looking for fun and engaging ways to include more fruit and vegetables in our diet.

Two months on, I still find myself checking the shopping trolley to make sure it is filled with fresh vegetables. Better still, it has become a shared activity with my daughter. These activities are proof that the marketing our industry invests in can make a difference.

Between sessions including supplier updates, research presentations, compliance sessions and industry talks, I found myself wandering through the expo area taking in everything from beekeeping and packaging to scales and other innovations.

Some of the most interesting exhibits included spraying technology, the Quarantine Dogs and the latest packing and packaging gear. The pace of innovation is relentless, with each year bringing smarter and more practical technology to the trade show floor.

HC26 also excels at bringing people together, with countless networking opportunities emerging across the Trade Show Floor. If you spent any time walking the floor, you were likely to cross paths with Maureen Dobra, Rohan Prince, Thanh 'The Fruit Nerd' and many other notable personalities. I was also chuffed to bump into The Wiggles' Tree of Wisdom in the flesh.

Networking events

The conference evenings saw delegates attending a range of networking events, including one at the Adelaide Oval. The stadium light show provided a great intermission from all that schmoozing.

AUSVEG also hosted a function at Adelaide Casino where Matt Moran spoke about his connection to farming and food production and his role as an industry ambassador.

A shout out to everyone who attended the many events throughout the conference. Networking takes effort, but you never know what opportunities may come from meeting someone new or reconnecting with old contacts.

Hort Connections Industry Awards

While many of us were feeling the effects of a busy few days, the awards night was a fantastic way to close out the HC26 event calendar. It was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations helping drive the horticulture industry forward.

I'd like to acknowledge award nominees Mario Casotti and award winner Francis Tedesco. It is always great to see WA producers among the nominees and winners.

I'd also like to acknowledge 2026 Researcher of the Year Dr SP Singh. His team's work through the Safe projects has made a significant contribution to food safety, with zero recalls in eight years demonstrating the impact of effective research.

South Australian Produce Markets site visit

One final highlight was an invitation to visit the South Australian Produce Markets in Pooraka. Despite the 4am start after a busy few days, it was great to see the markets in action.

It was also great to see several WA producers using the conference as a springboard for additional industry visits. Seeing WA produce on the floors of the SA markets showed that we Westies can land a quality, competitive product into a major marketplace.