Page 23 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

$28 million 194%↑

The value of Australian up from same
avocado exports over the period in 2020/21
seven months to January Source: Avocados Australia

Joe Masasso from Rocky Creek Orchards
and John Villella from Villella Farming.
Credit: Rocky Creek Orchards

“What you see in Coles and Woolworths is The subsidies are scheduled to end North Queensland is the
size 23 to 25, which they don’t necessarily in June. “We need certainty in terms of country’s highest producing
want overseas. They’re interested in the freight costs and once IFAM drops off, the avocado region, sending off
bigger fruit as well and we’ve just had an price of freight might go through 28,000 tonnes of fruit
order for size 16 fruit.” the roof,” Andrew said. “Until passengers per year.*
However, the ongoing success of the return to pre-COVID levels, there’s
initiative will depend on a continuation no guarantee those freight prices will In 2020/21, 43% of the
of cost-effective flights. Currently, freight remain as they are.” He said it would also nation’s total crop came from
flights are being subsidised under the be helpful if more local growers started the Atherton Tablelands.
Federal Government’s International exporting to create extra demand and
Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), therefore supply in the air services *Based on a two-year average
which was established to keep on offer. Source: Avocados Australia
international trade going during
the pandemic.
MORE: @kaurigroup

Agricultural hub

Construction has begun on The Cairns Regional Trade Distribution
Centre at Cairns Airport. The 2400-square-metre facility will house
large cold and freezer rooms, temperature-controlled spaces
and ambient transit areas to distribute premium local produce to
international markets. Operator Air Freight Handling Services says
it will be up and running by the year’s end.

The facility received $10-million in state government funding.
It will become Queensland’s second state-supported regional
export hub, following the completion last year of a trade
distribution facility at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba.

23 • tropicnow.com.au