Thai deal fast tracks Australian fruit trade

Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 12th September 2018

PERSIMMON growers across Queensland will have better market access to Thailand thanks to a trade agreement finalised this week.

The agreement delivers a new irradiation plan for fresh produce to Thailand, which is newer and faster but also a safe and chemical free way to manage biosecurity.

Prior to this our persimmons could only be exported to Thailand under cold treatment.

To irradiate the fruit it goes into a giant chamber by conveyer belt and the fruit is sterilised, killing bacteria and pests, in this case the pesky fruit fly.

As part of the agreement, mangos from Thailand will also be eligible for export under the new irradiation pathway.

Australia and Thailand announce a new irradiation pathway for horticultural exports
Queensland persimmons gain improved market access to Thaliand
Deal will help open door for other fruit and vegetable growers trading with Thailand

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said: “With this deal done and dusted we can get on to tackling other commodities and get them on this same pathway. This will help get our quality produce onto Thailand supermarket shelves faster.

“This agreement will help open doors for the Queensland persimmon farmers and deliver speed to market.”

Fast Facts:

Australian horticulture is worth more than $10.5 billion, with the value of production forecast to reach $12 billion in real terms in 2022–23.
Australia’s main horticultural exports to Thailand are citrus, grapes, nuts and strawberries.
For the year ending June 2017, Australia produced 2,516 tonnes of persimmons, valued at $10.5 million.
Persimmons are produced primarily in south east Queensland.

Deals like this will help Aussie food production grow towards the National Farmers Federation target of a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030.

Agricultural trade between the two countries is currently worth $2 billion dollars and growing.

Queensland farmers will also benefit from the recent signing of the Indonesia-Australia comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement will reduce tariffs on exports of livestock, beef and sheep meat, grains, sugar, citrus and horticulture produce.

“Farmers can look forward to better access to markets with a combined GDP of $13.7 trillion under the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP-11).”

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