The signing of a protocol between China and Australia today for the export of plums, peaches and apricots from Australia to China is tremendous news for Australian stone fruit growers. Today’s announcement follows on from the access gained last year to China for Australian nectarines and will enable exporters to present a full range of Australian grown stonefruit to the burgeoning Chinese retail sector, and builds on the momentum that has been generated because of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and China (CHaFTA).

John Moore from Summer Fruit Australia Limited, told FreshPlaza that this is great news for both countries as they are counter-seasonal and all four commodities will be exported from Australia to China and vice versa. "This agreement is great news for Australia and China, it also recognises Australias PFAs (Pest Free Areas) such as Tasmania and Renmark. All other areas will have to treat for fruit fly."

The stonefruit season in Australia is just getting under way and the first of this seasons nectarines, have already arrived in Guangzhou and are selling very well.

"The brix level in the nectarines is 12 + season is just picking up," says John. "Early indications are that the season will be good and can only improve. Prices for the nectarines are already good and are said to be fetching 520RMB per 10kg box."

The chairman of Summer Fruit Australia Limited (SAL) Andrew Finlay applauded the work done by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR). The Departmental negotiation team and councillors are to be congratulated and the work done by John Moore from SAL in building the relationships within China that have been crucial in achieving today’s announcement. DAWR has worked closely with the Summerfruit Export Development Alliance (SEDA), a self-funded subcommittee of SAL comprised of growers passionate about developing a dynamic export sector for Australian stonefruit, and this willingness to work in an open and constructive way with industry has resulted in a practical protocol that will allow Australian growers to be able to compete on favourable terms with other southern hemisphere suppliers to China. This new protocol has provided the pathway for substantial trade in peaches, plums and apricots between Australia and China to occur. 

The Australian Summerfruit industry, through Hort Innovation, has invested a considerable amount of grower paid levies, matched by Commonwealth funding, provided through the Agricultural levies program to do the research work necessary to underpin components of the market access negotiations conducted by DAWR during the lead up to the announcement today. Additionally, the investments made by Hort Innovation using the Summerfruit levy to support the existing nectarine access into China will have significant beneficial flow-on effects now for Australian peaches, plums and apricots in China 

The announcement today for protocols for the export of peaches, plums and apricots from Australia to China highlights what can be achieved for the agriculture sector in Australia when governments, the industry RDC and growers share common goals and aspirations and are able to collectively channel their efforts, resulting in an outcome that will deliver huge benefits to those areas in regional Australia wher stonefruit is grown.