THE 1050 vegetable farms left in the Sydney basin are set to disappear because they are in the southern and north-western growth areas which the State Government has earmarked for housing over the next two decades. A report by the The NSW Department of Industry and Investment has recommended a review of the Sydney vegetable industry.

Tea anyone?

PEOPLE in the Blue Mountains and further afield have expressed interest in farming green tea, said John Robb, owner of Paradise Plants, a commercial nursery on the Central Coast. He said two Japanese have a five-hectare plantation near Gosford and export to Japan. Green tea consumption in Australia has tripled in the past five years.

Beating diabetes

A FREE information forum for men about diabetes will be held tomorrow at 7pm at Nepean Hospital. The hospital's dietitian, best-selling author Kaye Foster-Powell, will discuss how to fit a healthy eating routine into busy schedules to manage diabetes. She said that not checking blood sugar levels and avoiding taking medication can lead to serious diabetes complications such as kidney failure. About 6000 men in the Penrith and Blue Mountains regions have diabetes, according to Sydney West Area Health Service data. Details: David, 47343974.