Date: Tuesday, May 26 2026

Time: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm (AEST)

Location: Cherry Hill Coolstores, 32 Cherry Hill Road, Latrobe, TAS, 7307

Registration: Click here to register. Registrations are essential for address details and catering purposes. Biosecurity matters. Join us by coming in clean clothes and footwear, with a clean vehicle — come clean, go clean.

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About the Session

Aerial view of Cherry Hill Coolstores

Join PotatoLink for an afternoon at Cherry Hill Coolstores to learn about all things seed! Cherry Hill Coolstores have the capacity to handle 15,000 tonnes of seed potatoes per annum across their 16 coolstores and three large dry store areas. They provide services including cool storage, grading, potato seed, cutting and bulk unloading. During our visit, a curated panel of knowledgeable speakers will accompany us to walkthrough the many complexities and risks of the seed supply chain. There will also be an insightful tour of the site to demonstrate best practice of seed storage and handling.

Designed for all members of the seed supply chain, this workshop will enhance any foundational knowledge with additional insights from our panel and provide a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in cool storage. Participants will leave this session having addressed and explore:

1. Processes through the seed supply chain (seeing it from other people’s perspectives)

2. Risks and challenges that affect seed performance through the seed supply chain

3. Best practices relating to seed certification, storage, physiological age management and seed treatments

4. Importance of best practices on seed performance

5. Actions participants want to do differently to address key risks through the seed supply chain

Workshop Schedule

1. Panel session: This panel is designed to set the scene for the day’s activities, featuring experts from different sectors of the supply chain including seed storage, certification, processing, fresh and seed growing. Learn about the key stages of this supply chain and its many potential risks.

2. Cherry Hill Coolstore Tour: We will then embark on a tour of the cool storage facility to explore and witness best practice of seed storage and handling. The important main principles of best practice that will be touched on during this tour include temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and oxygen management, handling, hygiene, and commuication.

3. Presentation updates: Individual speakers will provide updates on some of their own projects as well as raise greater awareness for their aspects of the seed supply chain or problems that they face.

4. Group brainstorm and debrief: The day will conclude with an interactive session. Participants will brainstorm solutions to key risks that will have been highlighted throughout the workshop. Finally, we will reflect on our learnings and discuss any actions we can implement going forward.

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and our other Speakers

Meet the Panel

• PHYSIOLOGICAL AGE:
  Nathan Tivendale
  Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

• INTEGRATED DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Calum Wilson
  Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

• INDUSTRY BODY:
  Rob Salmon
  Potatoes Tasmania

• STORAGE: Conor O’Doherty
  Cherry Hill Coolstore

• CERTIFICATION: Doug Clark
  TasSeed

• PROCESSING: Rachel Gill
  Simplot

• PROCESSING: Andrew Vandenberg
  McCain

• FRESH: Nathan Daly
  Daly Potato Co.

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More Information

Please contact Seona Findlay, PotatoLink Regional Representative: 0428 922 106 or seona.findlay@gmail.com

• Meet Seona Findlay

  Seona Findlay brings over two decades of hands on agronomy experience to the role as PotatoLink Tasmania representative. Having worked as a private agronomist across Tasmania for the past 18 years and prior to that sales agronomist roles with local resellers.

  After graduating from UTAS, she recognised the growing need for independent, practical, and research driven advice for Tasmanian growers, an approach that has shaped her career ever since.

  In her new position with PotatoLink, Seona looks forward to delivering uptodate presentations, sharing insights from leading experts, and helping transfer the latest research and field knowledge to growers through field days, training events, and industry networks. Her work spans a wide range of Tasmanian crops, giving her a broad understanding of local farming systems and their interactions and the challenges and opportunities they face.

  Seona is passionate about education, sustainable agriculture, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on longterm farm health and practical solutions for growers that result in profitable outcomes.

  When she’s not out in the paddock, you’ll find her enjoying time with her children and making the most of Tasmania’s great outdoors.