Table grapes market access and trade development (TG20000)

The objective of the project is to maintain and improve market access for the table grape industry; to continue to educate the growers on their requirements under the Accredited Properties Legalisation; focus on improvements in quarantine and non-quarantine protocols and barriers; as well as maintaining strict adherence to biosecurity issues affecting both import and export of products for the key export markets such as China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, USA, the Philippines and the UAE to name a few. 

During this reporting period the following activities and achievements have been undertaken and achieved:

• Regional Forums at major growing regions throughout Australia including Mildura and Robinvale in Sunraysia; Emerald, St George and Mundubbera in Queensland and Swan Valley and Carnarvon in Western Australia.
  
  
• Attended Hort Innovation Committees iTAP and IMAAP.
  
  
• Attended DAFF Horticulture Export Industry Advisory Committee meeting.
  
  
• Participated in a DAFF Roundtable on biosecurity for trade.
  
  
• Met with DAFF to discuss on going improvements for market access into Japan and the USA.

• Undertook a trade mission to Japan to further consult on market access improvements for grapes.

• Undertook a trade mission to India to explore export trade opportunities.

• Attended Food and Hospitality trade show in Singapore.

• Attended Vietnam Food Hotel trade show.

• Attended at Asia Fruit Logistica with Hort Innovation in Thailand.

• Participated in meetings on trade biosecurity with Australian Wine Reasearch Institute and Plant Health Australia.

• Organised grower export workshop forums on export registration.

• Enhanced the ATGA Export Registration System.

• Improved the functionality capability and accuracy of the ATGA MRL App.

• Three meetings with Austrade on updates on Austrade export activities and to provide an ATGA update.

• Provided market intelligence on competitor countries to all growers via emails, links within the ATGA E-newsletter to relevant, article in the national magazine The Vine.

• Co-ordinated, designed and published the table grape Exporters Directory.

• Continued to provide all exporters and growers market intelligence on the China market including competitor country daily export volume, price and variety and landed Australian exports price and movement capability.

• Continued to liaise with other peak industry bodies involved in exports to share information and to offer support.

• Organised, co-ordinated and led the international Korean auditor on their annual audit of the table grape industries export processes successfully.

• Commenced negotiations with New Zealand MPI on having New Zealand International inspector in Australia during the table grape harvest season.

A number of engagement activities have taken place during the reporting period, including regional forums, along with the availability of tools to support growers with market access. Various communications platforms have been initiated to keep table grape growers informed and up to date including the use of emails, the ATGA website, e-news, social media, videos, fact sheets and the national magazine, as well as attendance at regional events in various states.

Meetings with Austrade, exporters, marketers, importers, international distributors and major international retailers have also been initiated. The ATGA has had a number of meetings with biosecurity personnel from a number of organisations including DAWE, Plant Heath Australia, Australian Grape and Wine and the Government Viticulture Biosecurity Committees from a number of states.

Export workshops for growers and exporters were conducted in all major growing regions. These meetings were a combination of face-to-face and video conference meetings. When COVID permitted, face-to-face meetings were held in Western Australia in the Swan valley and Carnarvon, in Queensland at Emerald, Munduberra and St George, and in Sunraysia at Robinvale and Mildura. Online meetings were also held and all regions were invited to attend those meetings.