Melbourne Market has been given an export boost with irradiation service provider Steritech to open a new x-ray treatment facility at the fruit and vegetable wholesale market.
The Victorian state government has invested A$4.9m in the facility, which will allow fresh produce exporters to meet phytosanitary market access requirements without having to ship produce to Steritech’s only other Australian facility fore fresh produce irradiation, based in Brisbane.
The project includes building 3,396m2 of warehousing and coolstorage at the Epping-based market, just 15 minutes from Melbourne’s international airport.
Melbourne Market CEO Mark Maskiell said Steritech established a facility at the market would be a significant step forwards in “expanding the Market’s role into other areas of the supply chain to create a hub of international significance”.
“This is a massive win for growers across our state, a boost for jobs, exports and a Victorian first,” said Victorian minister for agriculture Jaala Pulford. The new facility will significantly reduce transport and handling costs and further boost Victoria’s growing A$1.1bn horticultural industry.”
