Market impact is “key” for Australia’s success at exporting fresh produce, and making the most of the recent Free Trade Agreements signed with China, Korea and Japan, and re-entry to the Vietnamese market, according to Cheery Growers Australia CEO Simon Boughey.
Market improvement for Australia’s growing areas for cherries, for example, would mean 1500 tonnes would be headed to China this season, Mr Boughey says. “Tasmania in particular can go into these countries as a Pest Free Area, and we currently have cold treatment for China . We’re looking at similar systems to Canada, a systems approach and possibly irradiation for air freight,” he says. “A lot of countries seem to be developing packages for air freight. Let’s look at how we can do that too.”
Discussions around market improvement, and increasing exports have been mainly around stonefruit during Mr Boughey’s trip to Asia Fruit Logistica and Beijing, where he attended meetings last week following the end of the conference in Hong Kong. “The FTAs have at least pushed the process up in people’s minds. We’ve indicated we’re keen to push things along,” he says. “Our season is only eight weeks away. The Department of Agriculture and Horticulture Innovation Australia from my perspective, together with working closely with this industry has got to make a much more commercially driven timeline for access.”
Talks ended well, according to Mr Boughey, and China and Asia has a clear appetite for fresh, clean Australian produce. “Demand is really strong because of the quality of our produce.”
The reopening of Vietnam to table grapes and citrus, with cherries next in line, bodes well too, Mr Boughey confirms. “Vietnam was a really good market for us. Cherries, apples and stonefruit should be allowed in next but we haven’t yet seen information on what might be required. We’re just keen to get our fruit in there.”
Counterfeit labeling and boxes , where fruit is passed off as Australian remains a problem in Asia and the Middle East, Mr Boughey, says. “Most of our growers have direct relationships with importers, but it’s an issue we need to be aware of.”
The main way growers can protect their brands is to educate importers and consumers, and create awareness of when to expect seasonal fruit from Australia, he adds. “There were incidents this year where Australian cherries were being promoted in the Middle East too – but that could have been a one off mistake.”
For more information
Simon Boughey
Cherry Growers Australia
Phone: +613 62311229
E-mail: ceo@cherrygrowers.org.au
Website: www.cherrygrowers.org.au