WA STONEFRUIT

In my position as the WA Stonefruit VCF, I attended a meeting last year with the trade delegation from the Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s congress.

Words Ross Anile, Project Officer and Value Chain Facilitator, WA Stonefruit

DUE to the success of this meeting hosted by the Western Australian Trade commission, I was invited to represent the WA Stonefruit industry at the China Southern Airlines launch.

I was able to gather an insight in the possibility of assisting growers/exporters to utilise China Southern Airlines for the transport and supply of quality WA Stonefruit to the Chinese market. On speaking to various representatives from China at the event, it was apparent that the Chinese consumer desires to purchase fresh quality stonefruit from Australia.

Currently the Chinese market is facing challenges from price conscious Chinese consumers, no different to other parts of the world who are facing difficult economic times.

Consistency of quality and reasonable pricing is desired by our northern markets.

Exporting and developing new markets is a long-term strategy, which will take time to nurture. Once these new markets have formed a good working relationship with WA/Australian exporters, positive outcomes should be achievable.

Our proximity to the southern regions of China places WA in a positive position to supply these markets. Biosecurity protocols must be met, to meet Chinese import regulations, which will require investment by the WA government and WA horticultural industry and partners into new bio-security treatment systems.