The Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Committee (VSIDC) was established by an Order of the Victorian Government under the Agricultural Industry Development Act 1990 (Vic) in July 1992.
This Order was titled "The Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Order".
The Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Order was extended in 1996 for an additional four year period, again in July 2000 for a period of 2 years, 4 months, and again in 2002. Another Poll of commercial strawberry growers was conducted during September 2002. The result of the Poll was an overwhelming endorsement of the Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Order and the Committee.
The Order was subsequently extended by the Minister for a further four year period, ending on the 30th of November 2006. A another Poll conducted in September 2006 saw the Order extended for another four year period, ending on the 30th November 2010. The Victorian Strawberry Growers Association have organised a petition to go to the Victorian Minister for Agriculture in May 2010 seeking a further extension of the VSIDC for a further 4 year period ending 30 November 2014. In July 2010 the commercial strawberry growers again voted to endorse the VSIDC and therefore the Minister remade to order for another 4 year period to the 30th of November 2014.
The VSIDC collects levies from all Victorian commercial strawberry growers when they purchase strawberry runners plants.
The Committee uses these funds to:
'carry out or fund research and development into the production, pest and disease control, post harvest handling, plant breeding and variety evaluation of strawberries and advise growers about research findings'
and
'carry out or fund domestic marketing and promotion of fresh strawberries grown in Victoria'.
The Responsible Minister is The Minister for Agriculture.
The 2010/11 Committee comprises:
Mr John Hasan – Chairman andgrower representative
Mr Sam Violi - Treasurer andgrower representative
Mrs Anna Hasan - growerrepresentative
Mr Jim Ripepi - industrynon-grower representative
Mr John Frisina – industrynon-grower representative
Mrs Clarrisa Cincotta - grower representative
TBA – Department of Primary Industries representative
(all seven representatives act in an honorary capacity)
All correspondenceshould be addressed to:
Mr Len O'Connor – Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Officer
Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Committee
