New guide for Australian fruit and vegetable exporters

Australianfruit and vegetable exporters wanting to go global can now access advice onevery step of the export journey in a single online guide.

Ministerfor Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo, and the Minister forAgriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud,today launched, 'Fresh fruit and vegetable export requirements: A guidefor Australian business' a Turnbull Coalition Government initiativeensuring Australia's horticulture producers have the necessary information tocapitalise on the sizeable business opportunities on our doorstep.

MinisterCiobo said Australia's premium-quality produce was highly prized by overseasbuyers.

"The Turnbull Coalition Government is pursuing the mostambitious trade agenda in our country's history, opening new doors for moreAustralian exporters to sell their top quality, clean, green and safe produceto more markets worldwide," the Minister said.

"Australia'sagricultural products are a sought-after commodity, and this guide will helpproducers benefit from Australia's strong reputation, providing currentinformation on market regulations and expectations and links to the correctexport documents and templates," he added.

MinisterCiobo said Australia's proximity to Asia gave local producers the advantage ofshorter transport times, allowing them to deliver fresher, more attractivefruit, often in counter-seasonal months or times of short overseas supply.

"We're working on the principle that forewarned isforearmed. We want to ensure businesses – particularly new exporters - areaware of and comply with, key requirements and regulations, so they have a safeand smooth experience and continue to generate export dollars for Australia."

Thefarm gate-to-overseas market guide is the first time both Government andindustry advice about the export journey for producers has been collated in asingle place, making it easier for potential exporters to expand theirbusinesses, creating jobs and boost Australia's economy.

Ministerfor Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud said Australia's premiumproduce was in demand the world over.

"We'veproduced a simple guide to help exporters send Aussie farm produce around theglobe," Minister Littleproud said.

"We'remaking exporting Aussie produce as easy as possible," he said.

"We'redoing this so more of our exporters will send more Aussie food all over theworld, giving our farmers more selling options and our rural towns more jobs."

Thevalue of Australian fresh horticulture exports has nearly tripled over the pastfive years, growing from $846.5 million in 2012 to $2.11 billion in 2017,according to the IHS Global Trade Atlas (2018). Fresh fruit exports aregenerating more than half this value, with citrus ($423.1 million) and tablegrapes ($373.3 million) the standouts.

Chinahas emerged as Australia's most significant horticultural export market,accounting for nearly one in five dollars of value generated from horticultureexports (19%), and has maintained an average annual growth rate of over 200%over the last 5 years.

The guide is jointly produced by Austrade and DAWR, withassistance from DFAT, Hort Innovation, the Australian Horticultural Exporters'and Importers' Association and the Export Council of Australia.

The guide is available here: https://www.austrade.gov.au/fresh-fruit-veg/