Berry Industries Receive Funding to Develop Export Markets

A large federal government funding will be used to promote the use of Australian berries in worldwide cuisine. Berries Australia received a $239,000 Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) funding earlier this month, which will help the company expand its blueberry and strawberry exports into major high-growth regions. In fact, berries are the most popular fresh produce category in Australian supermarkets, with a combined worth of more than $1 billion. Exporters will be able to re-ignite dialogues and create relationships with importers and retailers in the target countries thanks to the support. Moreover, even if growers are not exporters, they will profit from this subsidy because it will help expand the pie and increase rewards for all growers.

The project, according to Berries Australia executive director Rachel Mackenzie, aims to increase exporter confidence and enhance exports in high-growth countries such as Singapore, India, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. The project will assist the agriculture sector as a whole in accomplishing the $100 billion farmgate value objective by 2030. Before COVID 19, the Australian berry sector was beginning to gain traction in terms of blueberry and strawberry exports. Strawberries are the most popular berry export, with a value of $35 million in 2019.

After a difficult time during the epidemic, agriculture minister David Littleproud commented that many berry growers were now eager to export. This initiative will equip them with the knowledge and resources they need to engage importers and retailers in a proactive and strategic manner. The minister also believes that exporting berries are a fantastic way to expand your business. “There’s a lot of potential to turn this Australian achievement into a global export juggernaut, especially because Australia has a lot of the most valuable berry kinds.”

Berry Conference to Boost Confidence

The combined blueberry, strawberry, blackberry and raspberry industries will converge on the Gold Coast from July 25 to 28 for this year’s BerryQuest International 2022 event. BerryQuest International 2022 will be an opportunity for Australia’s berry community to come together to support one another and to share recent their recent learning. They will also showcase the latest innovations including growing techniques, research, packaging, export development, biosecurity, labour and marketing. The industry boasts more than 700 berry growers producing world-class fruit which is enjoyed by Australians and many other consumers around the world.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)