Australia: Ideal timing sparks $13.7M vegetable, onions and melon trade effort

The nation’s melon, onions and vegetable growers have joined forces to develop a $13.7M export development program through Hort Innovation in a time of rising trade capacity within the industries and strong Australian produce demand. Being delivered through Hort Innovation using industry levies and funds from the Australian Government, and led by vegetable representative body, AUSVEG, with support from Onions Australia and Melons Australia, the 5-year initiative will build the industries’ export capability and support their sustainability over time. Hort Innovation head of trade, Brei Montgomery, said now is the ideal time to launch the effort with various factors informing the approach. “Now is the ideal time for this program when you look at current movements within our trade markets,” she said. “Covid has presented challenges, but it has also resulted in new ways to engage stakeholders; the strengthening of relationships to eager markets and a desire for businesses to diversify ...