Growers laud China deal

NECTARINES from the Swan Hill region will make their way into China from next year in the latest development of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement to benefit growers.

For years, stonefruit farms have been planting more fruit in anticipation of finally accessing the Chinese market.

Agreement protocols, set to see a total elimination of tariffs on nectarines in two years time, were signed off on last week.

Growers met with Member for Mallee Andrew Broad in Woorinen South yesterday, with many keen to know how swiftly the Chinese market would open up for their nectarines.

Mr Broad said it would be a gradual process but assured farmers market growth would be steady once Chinese customers were exposed to Australian nectarines.

Growers want similar protocols for fruit like apricots, peaches and plums to be signed off so they too can be exported to China and Mr Broad indicated he would keep making the case for stone fruit in Canberra. 

“We’ve had a lot of work to get these protocols — you get the FTA but then the Chinese have to accept that particular fruit and accept that it’s not going to have fruit fly and is up to their specifications,” he said. 

“We’re not going to put a thousand shipping containers in next season (but) once you get the door open, (the fruit) sell themselves.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (May 27, 2016).