The outbreak of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was detected in January and production shut down as Agriculture Victoria leads the decontamination process.
Up to 10 AgVic staff are involved in supporting the company’s staff in the disease eradication process.
An AgVic spokesperson said business staff would undertake disposal and decontamination works on the property with AgVic staff on site to support with safe biosecurity practices.
AgVic is assisting in the safe removal and disposal of plant materials and the decontamination of the premises.
AgVic will also undertake surveillance and testing of the surrounding glasshouses to ensure the property is free of the highly contagious virus and to get fruit ready for market as soon as possible.
Under the national response plan, infected premises need to undergo further surveillance, tracing of risk movements and decontamination to ensure all traces of the virus are removed prior to returning to production and trade.
AgVic said this would be undertaken in collaboration with the business over the coming months.
According to the National Response Plan, after decontamination is complete (estimated to take multiple weeks), a two-week fallow period starts, followed by 12 months proof of freedom where regular testing occurs to ensure the premises is free of the virus.
Fruit production and selling can start during the proof of freedom stage.
The virus was first discovered in a glasshouse north of Adelaide in August last year.
The virus is thought to have arrived in seeds imported from Europe in May.
The South Australian glasshouses were under quarantine for several months.
Meanwhile, employees stood down from the Katunga Fresh operation have been assisted through a support hub established on January 29 at the Katunga Recreation Reserve as part of the shire’s responsibilities under the State Emergency Plan.
The hub has co-ordinated practical assistance and advice.
Moira Shire chief executive officer Matthew Morgan said the hub had brought together a range of agencies to provide immediate and longer-term assistance, including Workforce Australia, Red Cross, Numurkah Uniting Church, Brotherhood of St Laurence, NCN Health, GOTAFE, Primary Care Connect, Uniting VIC TAS and Shepparton Ethnic Council.
“It’s helped to connect more than 110 people to information and services in the past two weeks and will remain available for as long as needed,” Mr Morgan said.
“We thank everyone who jumped in so quickly to provide advice and support to impacted workers.
“Council will continue to support Agriculture Victoria and other agencies as the response continues.”
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