AU: Avocado imports hitch lift to success
An avocado marketing levy paid by Australian growers was not imposed on New Zealand producers. The problems rose when the local season was not very productive and the sale of new Zealand avocados rocketed as a result.
18 people - most of them growers - gathered at Comboyne Community Centre last week to plead their case to Lyne MP Robert Oakeshott.
The marketing levy is collected annually by the federal government for TV and magazine advertisements and, collectively costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Australian growers are required to stump up 25 cents per 5.5 kg tray they sell.
Owner of Coastal Avocados Chris Nelson, who is also avocado Australia’s Central NSW representative, said, "It’s just unreasonable at the moment for us to be paying the levy and New Zealand to be piggy backing on that."
"It is essential that there is a system put in place that money is collected on our side. That’s all we want to do, we just want fruit imported into Australia to be charged for promotion here and to get things formalised."
"No overseas products should get a free ride in Australia, and a level playing field doesn’t mean limiting opportunities for Australian local and fresh produce," Mr Oakeshott said.
The MP also addressed concerns the growers have about New Zealand produce being misrepresented as locally produced in the supermarkets would be dealt with.
"I will be clarifying allegations of New Zealand avocados dumped on the Australian market, and then being sold under the banner of Australian avocados. If the allegation is true, it is a matter for public policy and regulators to address through enforcement and potential changes to the law," Mr Oakeshott said.
Mr Nelson said the meeting was a good start.
"He [Robert Oakeshott] made a commitment that he will investigate the best way to bring it to the government’s attention and that’s the beginning of a strategic approach which is exactly what we need," he said.
Source: www.portnews.com.au
