Sweet deal: Joe Moro is hopeful Tableland mangoes will be sold in the US marketplace. Picture: KYLIE REGHENZANI
Tableland hopes to crack US mango market
Tony Stickley
Saturday, July 30, 2011
© The Cairns Post
TABLELAND mango growers are hoping for a boost in sales when Australia and the US sign an agreement on access for the fruit, possibly later this year.
Mareeba Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association president Joe Moro said negotiations were under way between Australian Biosecurity and US authorities.
There are more than 200 mango orchards on the Tableland producing $30 million worth of fruit.
Mr Moro said growers hoped to repeat their success in selling mangoes to the New Zealand market.
For many years, Australian mangoes were banned in the NZ because metal bromide was used to preserve the fruit.
About six years ago they regained access using irradiation instead, though there was still resistance with the two main supermarket chains refusing to stock the fruit for a time. But Mr Moro said that fear had slowly abated and now Australia sold about 600-700 tonnes a year.
Australia consumes 90 per cent of mangoes it produces domestically, with the rest going to NZ, China, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Europe.
Now the focus was shifting to the US which currently gets much of its supply from South America.
Mr Moro said good headway had been made in negotiations for a protocol to be signed with the US.
"It is looking very good and very positive,’’ he said.
"It will be another good achievement for the mango industry to gain access to the USA market."
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/07/30/176085_local-news.html
Tableland hopes to crack US mango market
Tony Stickley
Saturday, July 30, 2011
© The Cairns Post
TABLELAND mango growers are hoping for a boost in sales when Australia and the US sign an agreement on access for the fruit, possibly later this year.
Mareeba Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association president Joe Moro said negotiations were under way between Australian Biosecurity and US authorities.
There are more than 200 mango orchards on the Tableland producing $30 million worth of fruit.
Mr Moro said growers hoped to repeat their success in selling mangoes to the New Zealand market.
For many years, Australian mangoes were banned in the NZ because metal bromide was used to preserve the fruit.
About six years ago they regained access using irradiation instead, though there was still resistance with the two main supermarket chains refusing to stock the fruit for a time. But Mr Moro said that fear had slowly abated and now Australia sold about 600-700 tonnes a year.
Australia consumes 90 per cent of mangoes it produces domestically, with the rest going to NZ, China, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Europe.
Now the focus was shifting to the US which currently gets much of its supply from South America.
Mr Moro said good headway had been made in negotiations for a protocol to be signed with the US.
"It is looking very good and very positive,’’ he said.
"It will be another good achievement for the mango industry to gain access to the USA market."
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/07/30/176085_local-news.html
