Japan clears more Aussie table grape varieties for increased export

A GREATER range of Australian table grape varieties will land on Japanese plates thanks to the removal of varietal restrictions. Earlier this month, the Australian Government announced the clearance of more than 130 table grape varieties to export to Japan for the upcoming export season, which runs from December to May. It comes after the successful completion of technical market access negotiations. Previously, Australia could only export three varieties of table grapes to Japan; Crimson Seedless, Red Globe and Thompson Seedless. The Australian table grape industry has long called for an increase in table grape varieties into Japan. Australia has been exporting table grapes to Japan for a decade now. According to the 2023/24 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook, table grapes increased in value by $196.4 million, largely pushed by a year-on-year growth in export value of 28 per cent. Table grapes easily top the charts in terms of fruit exports, sitting at $557.3m for ...