Tomato grower Tony Sacca in showdown with PIRSA after seed tests positive for virus

One of the state’s most respected horticulturalists faces a showdown with the government over the brown rugose fruit virus.

A prominent South Australian tomato grower says he will deny biosecurity authorities access to his property to test for a contagious virus.

Long-time Virginia grower Tony Sacca fears losing both his home and his business if authorities find the tomato brown rugose fruit virus on his farms.

Mr Sacca’s dilemma comes after he purchased and planted a batch of imported seeds that were accompanied by a federal phytosanitary certificate confirming it was free of the virus.

But after planting seeds and propagating the plants, he has received notification from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) that the initial virus-free status of the seeds was incorrect.

Virginia tomato grower Tony Sacca says he will deny biosecurity authorities access to his property to test for the ToBRFV virus. Picture: Keryn Stevens

He is now required to allow PIRSA staff onto his farm to test his plans for the contagious disease, known as ToBRFV, but fears a positive test could send him bankrupt.

“I haven’t bought this virus in,” Mr Sacca said. “Why should I be the one that wears all the costs? Why should I be the one playing Russian roulette?

“I bought this seed in good faith and you, the government, guaranteed me that it didn’t have the virus, and now it has, out of nowhere. At fault is the government here, 100 per cent.”

Mr Sacca, 57, said he met with Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven and PIRSA officials who were unable to guarantee him compensation if the virus was found on his plants.

The respected grower has been nominated for both grower of the year and, ironically, biosecurity gongs at the premier’s horticulture industry awards in May.

He said he would deny PIRSA access to his property to test his plants unless he was guaranteed compensation if the virus was found and has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the ToBRFV saga which crippled the SA tomato industry last year.

“Farmers should be compensated for following the rules and regulations of what biosecurity officials set,” Mr Sacca said.

“Why should we be held accountable for a virus we don’t bring in.”

Ms Scriven refused to say if she thought Mr Sacca should be eligible for compensation if the virus was found on his farm but said it was in his best interests that plants on his property be tested.

“This will either show that there is no infection, in which case Mr Sacca’s trade can continue as usual, or it will indicate that measures to protect other growers need to be put in place under the nationally agreed response plan,” Ms Scriven said.

“Plant testing, which is a nationally agreed approach, prevents the needless destruction of a crop that is free from ToBRFV.”

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven refused to say whether Mr Sacca should be eligible for compensation if the virus was found on his farm. Picture: Mark Brake

A PIRSA spokesperson said plant health inspectors had authority to enter Mr Sacca’s property under the Plant Health Act 2009 and the department could apply for a court order if entry was refused.

“All imported tomato seed requires mandatory testing for seven exotic viruses and viroids transmitted via seed, including tomato brown rugose fruit virus, either by an offshore laboratory, or on arrival in Australia,” they said.

“The tests are statistically supported to ensure there is a very low chance that exotic viruses and viroids will be present.”

Opposition Primary Industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti said the tomato virus saga had been “a kick in the guts” for growers and Mr Sacca’s situation was “yet another example of our primary industries being low on the list of priorities for this state government.”

Originally published as Tomato grower Tony Sacca in showdown with PIRSA after seed tests positive for virus