Ambitious plan to grow Australia's fruit and vegetable exports

Australia has solid reputation for producing high-quality produce that has undergone rigorous food safety inspections along all stages of the supply chain. Now Hort Innovation is leveraging this reputation with an ambitious plan to significantly grow exports.

Highlights of the plan include the following:

• Export 12,000 tonnes of cherries by 2020–21, an increase of 340% over 2015 levels. This equates to a 16.5% year-on-year growth over a five-year period.
• Increase the value of vegetable exports by 40% (to $315 million) by 2020.
• Increase almond export sales from 64,000 tonnes in 2016 to 110,000 tonnes in 2022.
• Increase exports of Australian strawberries from 4% to at least 8% of national production by 2021.
• Increase avocado exports to more than 10% of production by 2021.

A key component of the export initiative is ‘Taste Australia’, which has been developed in conjunction with growers, state and federal government agencies, and other trade stakeholders. Launching at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong next month, Taste Australia will be the focus at a series of trade shows in Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo. Hort Innovation is investing 40% more on trade show efforts than last year. Growers and industry representative participation in overseas promotional activities will also rise by 30%.

Hort Innovation will also continue to collectively work with a number of research and development corporations, including Dairy Australia, Wine Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia, to showcase premium food and beverages at events overseas under the Taste Australia banner.

Back home in Australia, Hort Innovation is investing more than $10.5 million in trade-related R&D activities over the next year and is set to boost its investment across areas such as biosecurity, pre-export produce treatments and supply chain efficiencies.