Program helps Aussie mango grower secure new US deal

The Morrison Government's $72.7 million Agribusiness Expansion Initiative has helped one of Australia's largest mango growers secure a new deal to export more of its prized fresh produce to the United States.

A deal between Northern Australia grower Manbulloo Ltd and retail giant Walmart's Sam's Club will mean the tropical delight will be available in greater numbers and more locations in the US than ever before, supporting local jobs and business growth.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan said the Agribusiness Expansion Initiative was providing tangible assistance to hard-working Australian farmers, fishers, foresters and food and beverage producers.

“The Morrison Government is helping Australian agribusinesses find new international customers and markets with this targeted, rapid-response program,” Mr Tehan said. “We will always have the back of Australia's agribusiness sector.”

“Manbulloo Ltd are an excellent example of an Australian business that has remained resilient despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. They have doubled the number of mangoes exported to the US every year for the past five years, despite the pandemic.

“Currently Manbulloo is exporting hundreds of tonnes of premium Australian mangoes into California, however they expect that number to increase into the thousands in coming years.”

Manbulloo provided several tonnes of R2E2 mangoes a week to Sam's Club this growing season, with the volume expected to grow next season.

Sam's Club is a chain of retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart across 44 states in the US.

Manbulloo and Giumarra's partnership with Sam's Club will initially focus on California and is in addition to existing sales in Californian-based supermarket chains and online platforms.

Manbulloo's Managing Director, Marie Piccone, said the business was pleased with the outcome of the first seasonal program with its new US partner.

“The Sam's Club program went really well, we shipped our last direct box of premium R2E2 mangoes to the USA in early January,” she said.

“The team at Austrade have provided tremendous assistance to us throughout the pandemic, allowing us to both maintain and increase our place in existing markets but also diversify into new ones.”

Since it was established in 2005, Manbulloo has grown to seven farms in the Northern Territory and Queensland, with mangoes harvested from mid-September until March depending on the growing region.

On top of strong domestic sales, it now supplies high-quality Australian mangoes to customers throughout the US, Canada, Asia and New Zealand.

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is rapidly scaling up its services as part of the Agribusiness Expansion Initiative.

Already this year, $365 million of export sales have been facilitated by the surge in services with more than 5000 food and agribusinesses accessing Austrade's digital market services.

ENDS