Improved trading conditions with China and Japan, combined with ongoing protection of the Riverland’s fruit fly free status is allowing good production flow and strong demand for local citrus crops.
Brett Morgan, managing director of Agri Business Supplies at Ramco, South Australia, said the region was enjoying the fruit fly free zone title compared with the Adelaide and Mildura areas. Furthermore, after previously relying on the US market, now South Africa, China and Japan were the largest markets.
Morgan said wine grapes, particularly Chardonnay and Shiraz varieties, remained the biggest crop around Ramco, grown on about 10,000 ha, while citrus crops, largely navel and Valencia oranges, but also some tangelo and Satsuma oranges, were produced over about 3000 ha.
Source: goodfruitandvegetables.com.au
