Under the current export protocols, only cherries from Tasmania can be air freighted to China. Mainland cherries, on the other hand, have to go through a cold treatment process and are shipped by boat, taking a minimum of 18 days transit from Australia to China.
Cherry Growers Association CEO Simon Boughey says the current protocols make it hard to keep up with demand from China during the season.
“We can’t keep up with demand. The demand out of China is huge but it’s mostly Tasmanian growers that supply China and other key Asian markets because cherries can be airfreighted from here,” he says.
“The other thing is that the season is running a couple of weeks early, so orchards will be finishing up probably in the first week February. It will be interesting to see what they can provide for Chinese New Year with these conditions.”
He says the Cherry Growers Association is working with a number of government departments to get cherries into key Asian markets, including China, but that the process is still too slow to keep up with demand.
“We’re also trying to develop markets into China from other growing regions but cold treatment – which mainland growers can currently use to export to China – is just not commercially viable for us. What’s commercial is to fly it in and that’s what growers are looking for.”
Executive Director and General Manager of Antico, Hugh Molloy, says having an airfreight protocol for mainland cherries would make a huge difference for exports to China.
“We are in the best position to offer airfreight, which gives them beautiful fruit, great tasting at fair and reasonable prices,” he says, adding that it would offer them a longer season for Australian cherries.
“We could potentially have them taking fruit from earlier October right through February.”
Mr Molloy says exploring other export protocol options, such as irradiation, could also offer a solution to these issues.
“I think an irradiation protocol would be great because it gives the Chinese the security they need and would be great for other markets.”
For more information:
Simon Boughey
Cherry Growers Association
Tel: +61 419 871 824
Email: ceo@cherrygrowers.org.au
www.cherrygrowers.org.au
Hugh Molloy
Antico International Pty Ltd
Tel: +612 9764 3833
Email: hugh@antico.com.au
www.antico.com.au