The nursery industry is largely comprised of small businesses employing about 30 000 people with an annual wages bill in excess of $330 million. Of the 3000 wholesale businesses in Australia, some 650 are Victorian.

Just over half of all plant sales are made to home gardeners via retail nurseries and hardware chain stores. But significant sales are also made to landscapers, production horticulturalists such as orchardists, other nurseries for growing, wholesale markets and revegetation groups such as Greening Australia.

Over the years the industry has seen the introduction of more pest management chemicals and sophisticated fertilisers, proprietary potting mixes, royalty payments on new varieties, and consumer and marketing laws. Moreover, about a quarter of Australian horticultural produce is sold to international markets and this proportion is steadily growing. These developments have created the need for industry members to be more aware of legal rights and responsibilities.

To view a web page containing further information relating to this topic go to the Horticulture Australia website - www.horticulture.com.au.