A delegation of Queensland strawberry growers recently travelled to Jakarta, Indonesia, to better understand the supply-chain and identify opportunities for exporting Queensland strawberries to Indonesia.
Ray Daniels (left) and Luigi Coco (right) sampling Australian strawberries on the shelves of “Ranch Market” in Jakarta
The supply chain from Queensland to Jakarta is complex. There are currently no direct flights to Jakarta from Brisbane and treatments to address the fruit fly problem are required prior to export. There are also strict regulations imposed by the Indonesian government (including no direct access to supermarkets). Adding to the complexity is the high quality standards expected by consumers and the very short shelf life of strawberries.
Luigi Coco, Chairman of Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said he was surprised at the sophistication of the supply chain in Indonesia and was very excited about the opportunities for Queensland and Australian strawberry growers. “The Australian strawberries arrived on the shelves of Ranch Market and The Food Hall supermarkets, which are both considered high-end supermarkets, in great condition”.
The tour gave the Queensland growers the opportunity to meet with importers, trade officials, consumers and the owners of the supermarkets so that they can better understand the market requirements.
Indonesia has a population of 261 million, with more than Australia’s entire population residing in the city of Jakarta. The wealthy Indonesians and international expats located in Jakarta appreciate the clean, green and safe reputation that Australian-grown fresh produce has.
“The relationships that we established may provide an opportunity for year round supply of consistently good quality strawberries, as well as opportunistic supply during our winter-production months” commented Luigi.
Follow up trips are already being planned with the hope for strong industry outcomes for Queensland and Australian strawberry growers exporting to Indonesia.
The tour was part of project managed by Queensland Strawberry Growers Association, funded by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources through the "Package Assisting Small Exporters" program and supported by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
For more information:
Luigi Coco or Jennifer Rowling
Queensland Strawberry Growers Association
Tel: +61 0419 303 907 or +61 0438 752 177