Monthly Archives: November 2015

Brisbane irradiation facility ready for Australia’s first big season of mango deliveries to USA, as horticulture searches for new export options

Australia’s only irradiation facility with approval for exports to the United States is ready for its first big season of mango deliveries. Irradiation is a technique used to sterilise fruit fly and other insects before products are exported. Brisbane company Steritech earned the American approval in January, becoming one of just eight accredited facilities around… Read more »

Voice of Horticulture lobby commits to improving grower representation in Horticulture Innovation Australia

Lobby group Voice of Horticulture says growers should have more of a say in the running of the industry’s research and marketing body Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA). It comes as the first AGM for HIA got underway in Sydney, 12 months after the Government restructured it to be entirely grower owned. Horticulture Innovation Australia manages… Read more »

Low prices, high costs are causing a slump in grower confidence

A leading Tasmanian vegetable grower has said confidence in the industry may be much worse than the latest AUSVEG survey has shown. Results from AUSVEG’S latest survey showed grower confidence in the vegetable industry had declined by 3.5 per cent during July to September, when compared to the previous quarter. “Australian vegetable growers are becoming more uncertain about… Read more »

Horticulture exports to Vietnam reopened

AUSTRALIAN citrus and grape exports to Vietnam are back on the table, following a seven-month suspension. The Vietnamese government stopped issuing import permits for fresh Australian fruit from January 1 this year and sought advice regarding Australia’s management of Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly). According to the Australian Horticultural Exporters Association (AHEA), the Australian horticulture industry… Read more »

Australia’s Horticulture Trade with India

Australian Horticultural Exporters Association (AHEA) is a national peak association formed to promote the development of the export and import of fresh horticultural resources. AHEA’s Board and Members are representative stakeholders across the horticulture industry. Background: Australian Horticulture Industry Exports to India Australian exports of fresh fruit were valued in 2014 at approximately $2.7million (ITC… Read more »

Grower confidence in the vegetable industry has dipped

AUSVEG’S latest survey has shown a 3.5 per cent dip in confidence among growers, during the July to September quarter. The Grower Confidence Survey involves a selection of ten questions relating to how confident growers feel about key economic indicators, including macroeconomic confidence, investment confidence, market confidence and confidence in government policy. The confidence index… Read more »

India ‘to stay sugar exporter’, as cane boom tells

India, historically an occasional sugar importer in bulk, will remain an exporter the “next few years at least”, thanks to the enthusiasm among farmers for growing cane – a factor which has ended the country’s notorious sugar cycle too. Historically, India, the world’s second-ranked sugar producer and top consumer, operated on a five-year sugar cycle –… Read more »

Asian nation open for AG exports

AUSTRALIA’S agricultural outputs and food products are in strong demand overseas, particularly in Asia where a rapidly growing middle class is outpacing food production capability. With our high quality and high volume production, Australia is well placed to meet this demand. South Korea is one such growing market for Australian agricultural exports. South Korea offers… Read more »

JEAPA opens opportunities for Australian vegetable exporters

Australian vegetable exporters to Japan are reaping early gains since the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) entered into force on 15 January 2015. JAEPA eliminates or reduces barriers to trade in goods between Japan and Australia, including tariff eliminations or reductions that have been a key impediment until now. Recognised as the most liberalising trade… Read more »

Booming Indonesian demand for food an opportunity and a challenge for Australian exporters

The national commodity forecaster is tipping Indonesia’s agrifood imports to increase 20-fold by 2050, to be worth US$150 billion. That represents a significant opportunity for Australian exporters, who already send large amounts of wheat, live cattle, sugar and other products to Indonesia each year. But booming demand for high-protein, high-quality food for an increasingly urbanised… Read more »

Fiji’s agriculture industry to get boost

Fiji’s agriculture sector will receive about US$35 million in 2016 as part of the country’s budget announced by the finance minister today. That is an increase from US$30 million in the 2015 budget. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says agriculture is the backbone of Fiji’s economy, accounting for about 9.3 percent of GDP and it’s at the core… Read more »

Indian potato farmers to receive subsidy

The target is to cover 5,000 hectares with financial assistance from Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) . “Since about 68% of the farming community is small and marginal in the State and most of them are unable to procure seed potatoes as per their requirement due to non-availability of adequate funds, it has been proposed… Read more »

China’s demand for EU fresh produce grows

China’s growing demand for fresh food imported from Europe will require an investment in cold supply chains throughout the main route. There is an expected 17% increase in demand for imported meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables to China in 2015-2025. The Yu’Xin’Ou railway which connects Chongqing to Rotterdam by rail is a new route for… Read more »

Agreement to underpin Australia’s future prosperity

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is the most ambitious trade agreement China has concluded with any developed country, and promises a big boost for jobs and prosperity in Australia, writes Senator Richard Colbeck. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) is an historic step forward in Australia’s economic relationship with China and unlocks significant opportunities with… Read more »