FARMERS ROCKED BY FRUIT DISEASE
Infection another blow for hard- hit local family
A CHARTERS Towers farming family has been rocked by another crisis after their watermelon farm was quarantined over the weekend.
Jon Caleo’s watermelon crop at Sellheim, 20km east of Charters Towers, is in quarantine after testing positive for the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, an exotic disease that was first detected in the Northern Territory last year.
The blow comes after Mr Caleo’s son Anthony suffered burns to half his body during a burn- off at the seedless watermelon farm last year.
The family, who own Black River Produce in Townsville, supply some of the North’s biggest grocery retailers.
“We will take a hit of about $ 1 million,” Mr Caleo said.
“But after Anthony’s accident, everything was put in perspective and we will just pull together and push on.”
A CHARTERS Towers farming family has been rocked by another crisis after their watermelon farm was quarantined over the weekend.
Jon Caleo’s watermelon crop at Sellheim tested positive for the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, an exotic disease that was first detected in the Northern Territory last year.
The family, who own Black River Produce in Townsville, supply some of the North’s biggest grocery retailers.
The latest hit comes after Mr Caleo’s son Anthony suffered burns to half his body during a burn- off at the seedless watermelon farm last year.
“We will take a hit of about $ 1 million,” Mr Caleo said.
“But after Anthony’s accident, everything was put in perspective and we will just pull together and push on.”
Anthony Caleo underwent a series of operations and is back home with his family.
His treatment continues on Monday.
“I just gave him a hug and said we will get through this new challenge,” Mr Caleo said.
“It is his farm, we should be retired, and it is never easy, but we have a tight, loving family and we will just pull together.
“The pumpkins have so far tested negative so hopefully we can pick those, but even the weeds can hold the virus.”
Queensland chief plant health manager Mike Ashton said the outbreak appeared to be isolated and biosecurity officers hoped to contain it.
“Based on … the property’s isolation from other cucurbit growers, we are hopeful the virus is not widespread in Queensland and we will be working to achieve eradication,” he said.
It is believed imported cucurbit seeds may be the source of the CGMMV outbreak.
The Federal Government tightened conditions on imported seeds after the outbreak in the Northern Territory, but it is believed the seeds may have been brought in before the restrictions were enforced.
Dianne Fullelove, from the Australian Melon Association, said the latest detection was concerning for Queensland’s $ 90 million melon industry.
“It stays in organic matter but we don’t really know how long the soil is affected,” she said. “But once you have it, it is very infectious.”
CGMMV affects cucurbit species such as cucumber, melons, watermelon, bitter- gourd, bottle gourd, zucchini, pumpkin and squash.
The Bowen- Gumlu region, about 200km from the affected farm, is one of Australia’s biggest cucurbit growing areas.
Bowen Gumlu Growers Association president Carl Walker said local growers should ensure their on- farm biosecurity plans were tightened.
Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge said quarantining the property would affect the whole farming community.
“Cropping is never an easy industry so any setback is difficult,” he said.