After sending its first shipment to the US for the 2015/16 season, Australia’s mango industry is confident of building strong export programmes into the North American nation.
This season’s exports will take place under a three-year pilot operational work plan agreement between the USDA and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, which saw two shipments sent to the US last season.
“This (work plan) requires growers, packing sheds and treatment facilities to comply with a range of measures to meet USDA requirements,” said Robert Gray, chief executive of the Australian Mango Industry Association.
Gray said ties with the US will be further strengthened by the recently announced Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which will see the removal of tariffs on more than A$4.3bn dutiable exports of Australian agricultural goods.
“We are excited by the new export markets that are opening up for the Australian agricultural industry, especially as our Aussie farmers will reap the rewards of the expanding market,” Gray explained.
