Australia has exported its first batch of mangoes to South Korea after cooperation between Queensland government agencies and one of the country’s largest mango exporters.
The shipment of Kensington Pride mangoes was sent by Mango Road, the export arm of grower-marketer Manbulloo Ltd, and is the first time Australian mangoes have entered Korea since a protocol was signed in 2006.
“The Queensland government has been partnering with mango producers, exporters and interstate and national agencies as part of its Global Markets Initiative to improve the export capacity of mango businesses,” said the state’s Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin.
“After many years of negotiation and planning to ensure all of the market protocols are met, we now have access to the South Korean market.”
The fruit was imported by Jinwon Trading Co, one of Korea’s largest fresh produce importer-distributors, and is destined for hypermarkets, supermarkets, department stores and food service.
“We expect to export around 16,000kg of mangoes to Korea this season,” Manbulloo managing director Marie Piccone told the Weekly Times.
“Most of the consignments will travel by air, but we are also planning a seafreight shipment as a trial to assess the performance of this lower cost transport system.”
She said the company had established key contacts in Korea with the help of the government body Trade and Investment Queensland and export partner Delica Australia.
“We were able to showcase Manbulloo and mango production in Australia at a food seminar hosted by the Queensland Government in Seoul earlier this year,” Ms Piccone added.
Mango Road told Fruitnet.com earlier this year it planned to export Honey Gold and R2E2 as well as Kensington Pride mangoes to Korea this season.
