As Australia’s stonefruit season gets underway, growers have high hopes for a prosperous year with more than 5,000 tonnes of nectarines being exported to the Chinese mainland market for the first time.
Following more than a decade of negotiations, Chinese authorities granted market access to Australia in May, representing the first major new market open to the Australian stonefruit industry since exports to Canada commenced in 2000.
If all goes well, mainland China will join the industry’s existing main export markets Hong Kong, Middle East and Singapore, which currently receive more than 10,000 tonnes of fruit annually.
John Moore, CEO of Summerfruit Australia, said “Chilean white nectarines will also be sold in China and we see this as our biggest competitor. However, for the first time ever, Australia is making white nectarines available on supermarket shelves. This will be a brand new consumer experience for mainland China and we’re excited to see how it goes.”
“A major driving force in our export success is Australia’s clean, green image and food safety standards. Consumers demand premium, high quality and healthy products and Australian branded items are well received at the top end of the market,” Mr Moore said.
Australia is still the biggest market with more than 80,000 tonnes of peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines consumed locally each year.
Early season’s bounty comes from sub-tropical Queensland and northern areas of Western Australia and New South Wales and is followed by crops from mid to southern New South Wales and Western Australia, parts of Victoria like Swan Hill and the Riverland of South Australia. Fruit from cooler climates are last to market.
Typically in season from October to March, summer stonefruit supply is based on a staggered flow of different varieties, each lasting only a week or two which means there is a fresh, new variety at green grocers and supermarkets each week.