Australia: Getting growers export-ready
by Growcom CEO David Thomson
Funded by Hort Innovation, the project aims to increase Australian vegetable exports by supporting growers to capitalise on commercial business opportunities.
Export facilitators have been employed ‘on the ground’ in Queensland, WA and Tasmania as part of a network across Australia.
Growcom is proud to welcome Peter Hockings as an export facilitator for Queensland. He will work alongside the other facilitators to promote collaboration within the industry and provide links across the supply chain.
The facilitators’ work will assist in achieving the overarching objective of the Vegetable Industry Export Market Development Strategy of growing the value of vegetable exports by 40 per cent by 2020.
There is more opportunity now than ever before for Australian vegetable growers to become involved in export, especially with markets in Asia and the Middle East driving demand for fresh produce.
The perception of Australia as premium quality producer and our proximity to key markets puts us in a strong position in the international marketplace.
In addition to providing resources and extension support, the Export Facilitator Project will provide funding to assist export-ready growers in preparing export plans for their businesses.
The support offered will be tailored to individual businesses, both big and small, that are at different stages of development. Some businesses have a limited product range and seasonality. In these cases, the facilitators aim to connect growers and resources to create collaborative partnerships that will increase the chance of export success.
The Export Facilitator Project supports the delivery of the Vegetable Industry Export Market Development Strategy and the national Vegetable Export Development Program facilitated by the export Development team at AUSVEG.
Growcom welcomes the opportunities export has to offer as an alternative channel to domestic markets to improve business profitability. We are pleased to work closely with industry and other commodity groups to up-skill growers in horticulture and increase their negotiating power in the global marketplace.
For more information:
Growcom
Primary Producers House
Level 3, 183 North Quay
Brisbane Qld 4000
PO Box 202
Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
p: 07 3620 3844
f: 07 3620 3880
growcom@growcom.com.au
www.growcom.com.au