Wineries urged to act

WINERIES should pay profitable prices for profitable grapes and reject the rest.

That's the opinion of Wine Grape Growers Australia executive director Lawrie Stanford.

Mr Stanford believes low prices paid by retailers and winemakers are undermining the industry's profitability and reputation.

He says winemakers and grape growers would be no worse off under the proposal, but in the long term it would quickly bring down the oversupply.

Plant plan Mark II

A SECOND version of the Vegetable Industry Biosecurity Plan has been launched by Plant Health Australia.

Executive director Greg Fraser said eight exotic pests were classified as high priority threats for the Australian vegetable industry.

"All would have serious consequences for vegetable growers should they enter and become established in Australia," he said. The updated plan is available at www.phau.com.au

Orange boost

PURE orange juice may do even more for the body than previously thought, according to three new studies from the United States.

One study suggested children and adults who drank 100 per cent orange juice tended to have a better overall diet, higher intake of nutrients and less risk of being overweight than adults who did not drink orange juice.

A second study suggested people aged four and older who consumed 100 per cent orange juice tended to have significantly higher daily intakes of important nutrients.