The Australian avocado industry has reported that it is very close to securing an export deal for avocados with Thailand. Avocados Australia chief executive John Tyas is hopeful exports from Western Australia will begin in time for the coming harvest in September.
Mr Tyas said the main concern for both countries was Australia's fruit flies, but negotiations over an export protocol for the flies had taken significant steps forward.
"Later this month I understand there will be some audits undertaken by the Japanese Government of pack houses in WA, so that's a really good sign that things are progressing," he said.
"Our government is in negotiations with the Japanese Government around a suitable protocol based on what we call conditional non-host status for hard green avocados."
"The protocol that we're working on for Thailand has been presented to Thailand and there's been feedback on that."
Mr Tyas said he would like to see Australia's avocado exports grow from 4 per cent to about 10 per cent in coming years.
source: abc.net.au
