Valleyfresh Exports have worked with Cobram grower, Orsida Fresh to airfreight some of the first batches of Australian peaches to China via airfreight under newly ratified protocols.
The access will allow Australian growers of stonefruit, grapes and cherries to enter markets in mainland China more efficiently than before.
“Now with the direct access we can have a flight leave Melbourne in the morning and arrive in China that night,” said Valleyfresh Exports manager Saxon Call.
Valleyfresh will be focusing on airfreight in to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.
Their first shipments of peaches were in partnership with Orsida Fresh, a grower in Cobram, Victoria who worked with Call and his colleague Mark Shaw on the project.
“The grower we worked with was a big help in enabling us to get the right quality fruit in to the supply chain,” said Call.
Valleyfresh will be focusing their efforts on peaches and nectarines for the moment, but are hoping to begin exporting plums in the coming months.
Protocol treatments for different fruits can be found on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements website.
“With treatment, the protocol does cost a little bit more, but direct market access to China is what Australians have wanted and really needed.”
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