One of Australia's largest family owned glasshouse produce businesses, Flavorite Tomatoes, has received funding from the Victorian Government to explore the barriers, and expand its exports of tomatoes and capsicums into China and Japan.
The company currently exports into Hong Kong and Singapore, which is growing every year, but it plans to expand that strategy with the help of a $25,000 grant from the revamped Food Source Victoria program. The company will build a 4.3 hectare glasshouse, fitted with heating, irrigation and infrastructure as well as a new environment control systems to increase production yields by 10 to 15 per cent.
"Our plan in the next 24 months is to start exporting Tomatoes and Capsicums through various protocols into China and Japan," National Business/Export Manager Sam Kisvarda said. "Volumes planned are over 30,000 kilograms per week. This would not have been possible without the support of Victoria Government and Regional Development Victoria. We really went to them with a plan to increase our exports into the two most challenging export markets for Australian Produce and they have supported this cause."
State Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing says the funding is a win for the industry, as it helps get local produce into the lucrative Asian market.
“With more than 320 employees, Flavorite is a major local employer in Gippsland and this new grant will go a long way to getting more quality produce on supermarket shelves throughout Asia,” Ms Shing said.
Flavorite has a grower network all over Australia, but its major growers of Tomatoes and Capsicums and Eggplant are based in Victoria.
"We have been a family business since 1992 and still operate like this today," Mr Kisvarda said. "We run a fully integrated business, from growing our own seedlings and our network of growers’ seedlings to utilising the most modern technology from Europe. We feel that operating as a family business and having family members as a part of our management structure it gives Flavorite that edge."
Flavorite uses automatic computer technology to control irrigation and the greenhouse environment, as well as picking trolleys on an automated packing line, putting it on target to become Australia’s most cost efficient grower. Mr Kisvarda says the industry is often required to help keep up supply on the domestic market.
"Due to the most recent weather events in Queensland and Victoria the demand on Glasshouse produce is growing at a rapid rate," he said. "The industry is seeing that the future is covered cropping as there is confidence in supply forecasts and they are not so exposed to the severe weather events."
For more information:Sam Kisvarda
Flavorite Tomatoes
Phone: +61 3 8372 5610