A FRANKFORD blueberry producer has warned other growers in the state not to be afraid of the government’s strenuous blueberry rust checks.
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More than 48 Tasmanian properties have so far been detected with the disease and about 65,000 plants have been physically inspected for it.
Blueberry rust is a highly contagious plant fungus that rapidly destroys blueberry crops.
The virus was accidentally imported into the state in September last year in a shipment of blueberries from Victoria.
Blueberry Barn Cafe owner Debbie Morice – whose property was inspected and cleared of the disease earlier this year – said the rust had left a devastating effect on the state.
‘‘When I watched [Biosecurity] officers go through my crop, I really felt quite sick,’’ she said.
‘‘It was 10 years worth of crop, that would have been devastating for me. So I really felt for the others who lost their crops.’’
Mrs Morice owns more than 200 blueberry plants, which are used in all of her cafe’s signature desserts.
She believes it is important that growers are not overwhelmed by the seriousness of the outbreak.
‘‘I think the most important thing for smaller growers is to not be nervous about this and not to be so afraid of Biosecurity,’’ she said.
