The Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) is forecasting a bumper season, on the back of three strong years.
With the season scheduled to start in September, AMIA says volumes have been 9.5, 8.5 and 8.2 million trays, respectively over the past three seasons. Its Chief Executive Officer says it shows the industry has turned the corner, after some financial concerns across the sector.
"It's now a positive theme we are putting out there," Robert Gray said. "Our strategic plan three years ago identified that there was a lack of profitability right across the category that was a real risk to us. As a result people weren't investing in more planting, more infrastructure and retailers were concerned about their growth and losses. We've demonstrated over the last three years that we are able to turn that around."
He says chances of a strong season have been boosted by ideal growing conditions, and the extra trees that are developing each year. Apart from Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March, the cool weather has set up the right environment for flowering.
More than 250 people from across the industry gathered in Bowen, in Central Queensland, earlier this month for the annual mango conference, to talk about strategic opportunities on the horizon. While it is still early days, AMIA has identified growing export markets, in particular the United States.
"They are certainly not big contributors at the moment, but ones we've been investing a lot in to get them up and running," Mr Gray said. "In the U.S market, we've supplied fruit for three season, two from beginning to end. Most of our efforts have been embedding the process of treatment, managing quality, managing distribution and working with a small number of retailers to demonstrate the Australian model works. Our piece of fruit is more expensive when it arrives, compared to South America. So this year we will be incrementally building on that. But we're not at the stage of putting the pedal to the metal and ramping up volumes."
The AMIA has also identified markets that require the additional quality disciplines such as China and the Middle East as being successful in the long run. Australian mango exports to Korea have been going for slightly longer than the U.S, but Mr Gray says it is a different supply market because it requires strict quarantine protocols, such as the vapour heat treatment being met. But for those who enter the supply market, it has provided some strong returns.
This year was the first time mangoes were able to be imported from India, and despite some initial concerns from growers Mr Gray says impact has been quite minimal on the industry, because it has been counter-seasonal.
"There's only been small quantities of fruit come in to the country," he said. "We're not expecting it to have a big impact on our market for our time slot. After having a bit of interest initially, it's quietened down of late. So for us it's about focusing on the time of the year Australian producers are going to be in the marketplace."
The AMIA is also looking for an Industry Development Manager, after Trevor Dunmall announced he was standing down after 13 years.
"The new person will have very big shoes to fill," Mr Gray said. "He has really been the driving force behind our organisation since it started. He made the decision while things were going really well, for someone else to come on board and take over the challenge."
For more information and to apply for the role, click here.
Robert GrayAustralian Mango Industry Association
Phone: +617 3278 3755