Recently there were concerns that Simplot - the last vegetable processor in Australia - would move some of its vegetable processing plants offshore. These rumours have been quashed as the company pushes through record volumes at its factories at Bathurst and in Ulverstone and Devonport, Tasmania.
The low dollar is keeping vegetable producers in the profit loop and with added local demand from the big supermarkets, including Woolworths and Coles, the industry is staying viable and expanding.
It is has been under threat from New Zealand based processors using imported Chinese vegetables and reselling them to Australia as products of New Zealand, a modus vivendi that angers peak body AusVeg.
Asked about the future of the Kelso plant, the company said: “Bathurst is running as usual. As you would appreciate there is always a top-line review of operations to ensure maximum efficiencies are achieved in order to meet growth and ensure operations are sustainable for the future.”
Also, Ausveg released new figures and insights into vegetable exports last week with glowing figures for the past year. Ausveg reported the value and volume of fresh Australian vegetable exports increased in 2017/18, following strong trading conditions in key export markets in Asia and the Middle East.
Increased demand for Australian-grown vegetables in the region and increased activities and investment in securing the exporting capabilities of the industry’s growers have also contributed to the positive figures.
According to goodfruitandvegetables.com.au¸ the value of fresh Australian vegetable exports increased by three percent to $262.4 million in 2017/18. Over the same period, the volume of fresh vegetable exports also increased by 9 percent to 208,000 tonnes.
