Trade body Citrus Australia has appointed former Riverland Citrus industry development officer Kym Thiel as its first South Australian (SA) value chain coordinator.
The SA position is one of three new value chain coordinator roles created under Citrus Australia's national market development project, supported by Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL), and designed to boost Australian citrus industry profitability.
The SA value chain coordinator will deal with export market issues at a national level, while maintaining a strong focus on state and regional initiatives, Citrus Australia said in a statement. The role will also continue to enjoy financial support from Citrus Growers of South Australia (CGSA) and the South Australian Citrus Industry Development Board (SACIDB).
Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Harty, Citrus Australia market development general manager said: 'Kym will stay in the Riverland where he'll continue to organise grower events and liaise with packers and exporters. At a national level he'll be involved in market access projects, like recent efforts to solve Fuller's rose weevil and other pest problems that are preventing trade with lucrative Asian markets.'
CGSA chairman Mark Chown said his organisation had been a prime facilitator in supporting the national body's attempt to coordinate citrus activities throughout all citrus regions, and this would be a key outcome of the new position.
SACIDB CEO Andrew Green said the new role would further complement the Board's ongoing work across the supply chain in SA, especially in areas of export market development and improving links between growers and post-farm-gate industries for the benefit of all.
