Australia’s table grape industry is protecting the Australian growers’ long-standing and strong export position through a new $2.8M program to improve market access and responsiveness.

Delivered through Hort Innovation and led by the Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA), the five-year program will help the nation’s table grape industry adapt and respond to evolving international trade requirements.

Funded by the table grape growers through their research and development levy with contributions from the Australian Government, the program builds on the strength of previous market access projects which have facilitated the industry’s export growth over the past 20 years.

Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said the market access program was a flagship investment for the table grape industry.

“This new investment bolsters the table grape industry’s position in established and emerging markets, addressing the challenge of sustaining and incrementally increasing export volumes,” Mr Fifield said.

“As production and trade of Australian table grapes continues to expand, this program will play a key part in safeguarding the industry’s export approach, supporting growers to leverage export opportunities and ultimately ensuring the continued success of the industry.”

Reflecting on the success of the market access programs of the past, ATGA chief executive officer Jeff Scott recognised the program’s timeliness and the opportunity it presented for industry.

“This five-year program aims to address current export challenges and mitigate future risks for producers and exporters to sustain and fortify the industry’s long-standing and strong export position,” Mr Scott said.

“Producing and exporting table grapes has never been without risk. However, as international market requirements change, it’s important to preserve and enhance the industry’s export status through education, communication, relationship-building, strategic planning, and compliance activities.”

Table grapes have developed an impressive export legacy over the past decade, with exports surging from 30,000 tonnes (valued at $80 million) in the early 2000s to 152,500 tonnes (worth $623 million) in the 2019/2020 season.

Despite the rise in exports, the industry has faced challenges over the past few years, such as market instability, rising cost of production and trying climatic conditions.

Through this program, the ATGA will continue its work to improve market responsiveness through building export readiness and capacity, refining export compliance, advocating for improved market access conditions, communicating market intelligence, and strengthening in-market relationships.