Japanese consumers of Australian table grapes will have their pick of the bunch next export season, following the removal of varietal restrictions. The Australian Government announced a win for Australia's table grape industry, which has now achieved expanded market access, after a long campaign to increase table grape varieties into Japan.
Previously, Australia could only export three varieties of table grapes to Japan – Crimson Seedless, Red Globe and Thompson Seedless.
Now, Australian table grape producers will be able to open the cool room doors to more than 130 table grape varieties available for export to Japan for the upcoming table grape export season, which runs from December to May.
Australia celebrated a decade of sending table grapes to Japan this year, with the improved trading conditions set to make future seasons even sweeter. Australian Table Grape Association CEO Jeff Scott said the industry's campaign had been a long time in the making, and the achievement would transform table grape exports to Japan.
"Interest for Australian table grapes in Japan has increased steadily over the past 10 years, since technical market access was granted in 2014. However, our export market value has been limited by the varietal restrictions in place. Australian producers and exporters have sustained strong trade relationships with Japanese importers and buyers, and we know Japanese consumers are eager to take advantage of all Australia's table grape varieties on offer – which, after a lengthy wait, they'll now be able to," Scott said.
Table grape varietal access is expected to increase the export market value by A$30 million over the next few years, to A$50 million – a far cry from the initial 16 containers sent in Australia's first year of table grape exports to Japan.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Murray Watt highlighted the importance of the positive news for both Australia's table grape industry and agriculture sector at large. "Japan is Australia's second-largest market for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries products and a valuable market for premium Australian fresh fruit. The lifting of these restrictions is an important development for the industry as Japan is a stable and sophisticated market providing long term growth opportunities."
The achievement follows on from last year's success in removing varietal restrictions for Australian mangoes.
For more information:
Terryn Milner
Australian Table Grape Association
Tel: +61 0438 316 339
[email protected]
www.australiangrapes.com.au