AUSVEG, the industry representative for Australia’s vegetable and potato growers, has welcomed the announcement of the AUD$110 million International Freight Assistance Mechanism from the Federal Government this week, which will allow Australia’s vegetable grower exporters to meet the demand from key international markets for high-quality fresh vegetables.
The International Freight Assistance Mechanism will help exporters get their high-quality produce into key overseas markets, with return flights bringing back vital medical supplies, medicines and equipment critical to the ongoing health response.
Australian vegetable growers exported AUD$299 million of fresh vegetables in 2019, an increase of 6.6 per cent from the previous year. AUSVEG has worked closely with growers and the wider industry to provide opportunities for growers to increase their capability and opportunities to enter export markets to help the industry grow its exports to AUD$315 million by the end of 2020.
AUSVEG National Manager – Export Development Michael Coote said the announcement was already lifting the confidence of exporting vegetable growers who are keen to see the markets that they supply stay open despite the uncertain global economic environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the whole story here.