What was it all about?

This investment, which ran from 2017 to 2019, was all about supporting the export readiness of the Australian cherry industry by equipping growers and packers with the skills and resources needed to take advantage of new and improved market access. This project follows on from previous levy-funded programs aimed at fostering an export culture in the cherry industry and was part of the Cherry Industry Market Access Program – a high-priority, combined initiative to increase market access for cherries that will provide management practices and evidential support for market-access negotiations.

During the timeframe of this project, significant achievements for the industry regarding market access have included tariff reduction under free trade agreements, mainland access to China via airfreight attained and the Vietnamese market reopened. Subsequently, exports in 2018/19 increased by 57 per cent in volume from the previous year, largely due to protocols allowing airfreight to China and Vietnam.

Broadly speaking, the key aims of this project were:

• Assisting in designing training materials and events for growers, packers and exporters on the requirements for export to markets of interest
• Facilitating the registration and audit of export facilities
• Developing and implementing a monitoring and management program for a range of pests and disease of quarantine concern.

This involved the project team taking part in activities such as:

• Engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Water and Resources on market access
• Delivery of three export workshops nationally
• Updating the Cherry Export Manual annually
• Development of an export portal for growers and packers and establishing a single point of contact for industry on export queries
• Improvement in MRLs available for export
• In market visits and delivery of export intelligence
• Engagement with HIECC
• Ongoing communication with growers
• TAP business case studies

ACT NOW

The Cherry Growers’ Association (CGA) website continues to be updated with key documents relating to export market access, with the updated Cherry Export Manual also available by contacting CGA here.