Agriculture Minister encourages horticulturalists to seek new markets

21/9/01
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance has urged the State's horticulturalists to ensure they continue to respond to community trends and seek out new export markets.
Mr Chance chose the 19th Karragullen Horticultural Field Day as the venue to detail new developments in the rapidly growing industry and encourage co-operation at all levels.
The Minister pledged the ongoing support of the Department of Agriculture to work with growers and producers to help the industry improve its market focus, adapt varieties best suited to existing and new markets and improve their production methods.
Mr Chance said the horticulture industry was extremely diverse and ranged from cauliflowers grown in the south of the State to tropical fruits in the Ord River area.
In 2000-01 the industry exported $196 million of produce, an increase of six per cent from 1999-00.
"In today's globalised environment, it is increasingly important to understand the differing needs of end consumers and overseas markets, to look for new global opportunities and adopt new production methods," he said.
"However, for this growth to be maintained, the industry continually needs to review how it operates and where changes need to be made."
Among the recent developments in the industry detailed by Mr Chance are:

• the summer fruit industry's recent work to overcome problems experienced with the quality of the State's export plums in 1999-2000. This issue has now been resolved and a $9 million export industry has been maintained;

• the apple industry's success in achieving increased exports to the United Kingdom and Europe and developing markets in the United States of America and Asia. This has resulted in an increase in apple exports of $5.5 million in the last five years;

• the table grape industry's use of cool storage to extend the supply period to 10 months of the year. This has led to an all time record for table grape exports, from 700 tonnes in 1999-00 to 1,120 last year; and

• the vegetable industry's search for new market opportunities for domestic and export vegetables including seed potatoes, Japanese vegetables (burdock, daikon radish and shallots), and organic vegetables.

"Our horticultural industries have recognised the changing environment they operate in and worked to improve their end product," Mr Chance said.
"They should be commended for their efforts so far and encouraged and supported to ensure that we can offer quality products sought by lucrative markets."
The Minister said the State's major horticultural field day at Karragullen provided an important opportunity for nearly 3,000 stakeholders within the industry to share their knowledge, drive and vision for the future.
He congratulated the Hills Orchard Improvement Group for continuing to drive the field day for 19 years and making it the inspiration behind the establishment of a range of other similar events.
Mr Chance also acknowledged the sponsors of the field day - The Countryman Newspaper, The Farm Weekly, Roleystone Courier, Fred Tubby, Sport Trophy and United Crate.
Media contact: Mike Marren 9213 6700