Vince and Joe from Australia Fruits are familiar faces at Asia Fruit Logistica and this year, as the company celebrates 20 years in business, the boys will be back in Hong Kong to celebrate with Ray Erwin, also a partner in Australia Fruits, along with their closest and dearest friends at their annual Australia Fruits “Wine Night”.
Australia Fruits will be co-exhibiting with our family from Wandin Valley Farm represented by Tim and Alison Jones and the newest member of the WVF team, Reuben Jones.
Wandin Valley Farms has three farms, one is located in North West Victoria producing cherries early in the season.
"Our harvest dates are from mid-October to end of January encompassing all three farms from Northern Victoria to Tasmania. The main markets for the cherries are Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and many others," said Vince Brullo, General Manager.
"We are extremely excited about this year’s crop. With El Nino approaching, we prefer hot dry weather compared to wet and cold brought on by La Nina over the past 2-3 years."
Grapes
Australia Fruits also specialise in grape production, the season commences in January to June (weather permitting) – again with El Nina year predicted, they are hoping for a much improved grape season.
"Our main grape varieties are Crimson, Sweet Globe, Sweet Sapphire, Cotton Candy, with a new variety we found eats and travels well called Pink Diamond. Its very similar to Crimson, just bigger, fatter and crunchier. It’s a Spanish variety being grown here. The Sweet Globe variety is extremely popular with Crimson still very consistent for export markets.
The main markets in Asia are Vietnam, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines & Pacific Islands.
"We find Cambodia is emerging as a positive new market as well as the Pacific Islands. We can offer our customers mixed containers, that’s the good point of having our own logistics warehouse, where we can consolidate and load our own containers with ease.
Logistics
"We have been offering unloading and loading services to specific customers. We have our own logistics warehouse based in the Melbourne Markets, pre-cooling rooms, biosecurity registered for all protocol markets with in house, Authorised Officers allowing us to receive, pre-cool, inspect and load the cargo without any outsourcing.
"For our customers, its beneficial to their product, as we see all the product comes to our warehouse which allows us to QC on the product prior to it being loaded. Unlike most exporters who “work from home” – they send all their product to the freight forwards, and hope for the best. We have control of our own destiny."
Asia Fruit Logistica: Hall 3 3Q01
For more information:
Vince Brullo
Australia Fruits
Tel: + 61 3 9338 8245
[email protected]
www.austfruits.com.au