Increased production and consumption and reduced waste of Australian grown Asian Vegetables by:

1. Optimal postharvest handling, packaging and processing protocols for whole and minimally processed Asian vegetable products

2. Quality assurance of on-farm production and packaging processess

To ensure that Asian vegetables are safe to eat, the program of chemical residue testing was continued. Recent focus was on Vietnamese producers in Victoria’s Geelong area, with most emphasis on brassica crops. Tests checked for synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates and cadmium.

To help ensure produce quality, single page information sheets have been prepared for selected Asian ‘herbs’. These detail some essential quality attributes and give advice on postharvest handling. Crops covered include: hot mint, spearmint, garlic chives, coriander, perilla, chillies, Thai basil and kangkong. In addition, a descriptor manual (15 pages) for bitter melon has been developed, and will be available in English, Cantonese and Vietnamese.

Testing of modified atmosphere packaging has continued with a current focus on baby buk choy, buk choy, mustard green, kangkong and Chinese spinach.

· Study of the effects of growing media on the quality of rhizomes

· Preparation of Final Report

Preparation of Final Report: Almost all of the research content is prepared. The harvesting of rhizomes in July-August 2000 on new media will show its effect on rhizome quality.

· Testing plastic films recommended in DAQ-213A for use in modified
atmosphere packaging

· Investigating the potential shelf-life extension by MCP-fumigation

· Investigating the potential of different handling systems for extending shelf-life

MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) fumigation was found to be effective in protecting against yellowing of pak choy leaves by external ethylene generated in cold-rooms (eg. by ripening fruit). Unlike modified atmosphere packaging however, MCP was not effective in extending shelflife of leaves in the absence of ethylene. Although leaves produce their own ethylene during yellowing, the concentration is low and appears to occur once leaf yellowing has already begun. Optimising fumigation methods by varying temperature, concentration or number of fumigations did not further improve shelflife under these conditions. Physiological injury was observed in some leaves treated at the maximum concentration of 280 ppm. Injury took the form of pinhead-size red-brown necrotic spots on the leaf lamina.

1. Location of plant material to enable trials to be scaled up to semi-commercial size

2. Market evaluation of mature stems from sites already developed

3. Expansion of existing sites to allow for semi-commercial assessment of agronomic techniques and technology

The co-operation of a number of restaurateurs in assessing small samples of the product over the ensuing months will ensure the majority of the crop is harvested at optimum quality. Feedback to date has been very encouraging. Yield estimates of 1 tonne of premium and 3 tonnes of processing stems are anticipated.

Expansion of the semi-commercial sites will commence in October. Propagation material will be selected from side shoots of plants showing superior stem characteristics. In addition elite plants, exhibiting desirable stem characteristics, have been identified and isolated for seed production.

Investigations into propagation of wasabi by tissue cultural techniques are continuing. This method has potential to produce planting material that exhibits less genetic variability than do plants propagated from seed.

· Given the increasing demand for bamboo shoots, to build upon current production practice developed during the first phase of this project that enable object culm culling, irrigation, fertiliser and postharvest practices that maximise volume and duration of shoot production, water use efficiency, storage duration and availability of fresh produce for the local and export markets

· To establish a country-wide production strategy, based upon cost benefit analyses and regional complementarity, for the supply of export markets with Chinese cabbage, Chinese broccoli, flowering cabbage, daikon, burdock, vegetable soybean, kabocha, bok choi, chives and other leafy vegetables with viable economic returns

· General co-ordination will also be undertaken for other commodities with year-round production potential and already funded by RIRDC, eg, bamboo shoots, Chinese waterchestnut and lotus

· To develop field and postharvest management practices for these commodities that lead to produce demanded by domestic and export markets (accessed from sustainable production systems)

· To co-ordinate the co-operative effort amongst researchers, producers and markets specialists to maximise the export opportunities into Asia for these and later, other commodities

· It is envisaged that an add-to (ie, loose-leaf) book will be developed through the life of the project, starting off with literature reviews and, that details all production (ie, varietal, climatic, external input, cultural) and post harvest (ie, temperature, RH and gaseous conditions, films, etc) requirements, including current market specifications to enable newcomers to Asian vegetables to be able to determine their comparative advantages before entering production

We continue to receive numerous requests for information and contacts for a range of Asian vegetables. Information is provided on a ‘whole demand chain’ basis, including general information on genetic, production, postharvest, disease, quality and status of domestic and international markets. Contacts have been made and nurtured with interested buyers from Hong Kong (speciality vegetables), Singapore (winter melon), Beijing (cucurbits) and New Zealand (taro and winter melon).

A series of workshops conducted for producers in southern QLD and northern NSW has culminated in the formation of the Asian Vegetables Grower Association (AVGA). The AVGA has, through monthly meetings, made progress on issues of market information and minor use chemical registration. The President has held talks with the Chinese Growers Association from the Sydney Basin, and formal links between the two groups are expected soon. Hence the AVGA is moving toward being a national representative body. The AVGA is currently working primarily on a domestic marketing strategy.

Networking from the current project has enabled a large number of producers and processors/exporters, with interest in developing root crops (taro, yam bean, sweet potato and, to a lesser extent, yam), to discuss collaboration in a future proposed project to RIRDC.

1. by developing cost effective processing technologies for the production of Asian-style tempeh based snack food developed under project no. DAQ-174A. Attention will be focused on the production technologies for -

a. health-bar type product, and

b. other snack food/crackers.

2. Facilitate effective technology transfer and adoption through the early involvement of the industry collaborator.

The conceptual flow sheet options for the production of tempeh based snack foods and reusable metal trays for tempeh fermentation have been developed to minimise labour cost and improve hygienic aspects of the production process.

A commercial trial of tempeh manufacturing was carried out using 10kg of dry dehulled split soybeans at Simply Better Foods’ site in Melbourne in late Jun 1999. A small batch of tempeh bar production was also demonstrated in the trial run and the tempeh bars prepared at the demonstration were rated highly by the employees of the Company who volunteered to taste the products. The demonstration trial of tempeh crackers was carried out in March 2000.

A shelf life study of plain and mixed tempeh bars in three different types of packaging has been completed. The study indicates that the microbiological quality of the samples stored at 30° C for over 6 months is still very good. A shelf life study of tempeh crackers in three different types of packaging has also been carried for 3 months.

School of Natural and Rural Systems Management

GATTON COLLEGE QLD 4345

· The goal is to achieve development of the Australian bamboo industry, using the Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation, by devising and implementing whole-of-chain strategies that deliver value to all stakeholders in the chain that links bamboo producers with the consumers of bamboo products.