Page 22 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

Pilot venture

EXPORTS
A collective of Far North
Queensland avocado growers
is filling its first orders under
a new export initiative.

Words: Renee Cluff
The first consignment of avocados from He said new markets were sought to
Rocky Creek Orchards’ packing shed was cope with an oversupply. “With new In terms of freshness,
sent to Hong Kong in March, kickstarting North Queensland plantings starting to
new trade partnerships with come to maturity, there was a need for you can’t beat that
offshore markets. Avocados from 25 some of that excess premium fruit to Andrew Leith
local farms are packed, marketed and be redirected somewhere else,” he said. Agribusiness Advisor,
distributed by Rocky Creek Orchards on “There are other businesses exporting Kauri Group
behalf of their fellow growers. Now, new avocados but it goes south and is Another big plus is that the overseas
markets in Hong Kong, Singapore and freighted out from capital cities. buyers want the smaller and larger fruit
Malaysia have been established, with “The buyers, though, want to deal direct that Australian supermarkets aren’t
inaugural consignments being sent direct with the farms, not the traders. interested in. “Hong Kong and Singapore
from Cairns. Andrew Leith from Kauri “The other benefit is that we can want size 30 fruit which is really small
Group has been advising Rocky Creek’s potentially have fruit from tree to depot – basically you can fit 30 into a tray,”
Masasso family. in Hong Kong in four days.” Andrew said.

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22 • Tropic • Issue 35