While new markets for fresh produce are developed across the broader Asia region, experts in the production and distribution of fresh food are refining their approach to supply chain management in preparation of volumes likely increasing.
The surge in activity after Covid slowdowns will form the backdrop to a discussion on supply chain best practice in the Asia market in Hong Kong next month as part of the Asia Fruit Logistica - Asiafruit Business Forum.
The discussion on 7 September is part of a series of education sessions presented by the International Fresh Produce Association at Asiafruit Business Forum, which takes place on the trade show floor at Asia Fruit Logistica on 6-8 September.
Facilitated by International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand managing director Ben Hoodless, the discussion will hear from Luke Wood, CEO of supply chain intelligence provider, Escavox; Michael Simonetta, CEO of Perfection Fresh, Australia's largest privately owned fresh produce grower and marketer; Noel Ainsworth, principal supply chain horticulturist at Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Martin Ferreyra, Australian trade commissioner and consul, South China and agribusiness sector lead, Greater China.
Ben Hoodless said prominent food industry leaders, producers and supply chain partners were responding to the positive momentum, citing international carrier Cathay Pacific's decision to increase its number of weekly flights between Hong Kong and Brisbane by 50% to cater for additional tourists and rising exports, providing an additional 50 tonnes of cargo space a week, according to the Queensland Government.
“And Australia's national horticulture R&D and marketing body, Hort Innovation, announced this month it had secured $130 million to fund its Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA), an initiative created to help protect and grow Australia's horticultural exports, especially in new lucrative markets,” Hoodless said.
“The funding comes at a time of huge opportunity for fresh produce suppliers in our region, illustrated by successful trial shipments of Australian avocados to India in July stemming from the Australia-India free trade agreement and the desire to diversify export markets as protection against future volatility.”
Supply chain tracking technology from Australian data provider Escavox was on board the avocado shipments bound for India, conveying the conditions of the journey and its impact on the consigned produce back to its exporters in real time.
"Along every step of the journey, those with a stake in seeing those avocados arrive in optimum condition could see where their produce was located and whether it was too hot, too cold or exposed to too much light, humidity or movement,” Escavox CEO Luke Wood said.
Perfection Fresh CEO Michael Simonetta said supply chain capability was crucial in the export channel. ”It can greatly impact our product quality and our bottom line,” he said.
For more information:
Tim Withers
International Fresh Produce Association A-NZ
Tel: +61 410 288 545
Email: twithers@freshproduce.com