NT mango growers encouraged to dive into the lucrative US market

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Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.Net User: Aduldej

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, and Northern Territory Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Willem Westra van Holthe, have urged mango growers in the NT to make the most of the access to the lucrative US market that the Australian Government managed to gain earlier this year.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.Net User: Aduldej

“Applications are now open for mango growers to nominate orchards or blocks for export in 2015 to the US and to other major markets such as China, Japan and Korea,” Minister Joyce said, adding that the deadline for growers, pack-houses and treatment facilities to submit their application to the Australian Mango Industry Association ends on 27 July.

“Market access for mangoes to the US was gained late in the 2014 season—I hope in 2015 we will see even more growers take the opportunity presented by access to the valuable US market. Our mangoes are the best in the world, and I am confident that expanding our horticulture trade with the US will help reinforce Australia’s reputation as a reliable supplier of clean, green premium produce.”

Minister Westra van Holthe said the Territory’s mango growers stood to benefit a great deal by engaging “the most promising of all markets” in the world.

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“The US market is wonderful—the most promising of all the markets we’ve looked at,” he said.

“It’s very stable, with clear and consistent rules and regulations and I encourage all Territory mango growers to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Minister Joyce said the Australian Government was fully committed to increasing farmgate returns for producers however possible, including by creating new trade opportunities for Australia’s agricultural sector.

“We said Australia was open for business and we meant it. In the agriculture portfolio since September 2013, we have achieved 42 key market access gains or restorations of suspended markets, and 14 key market access improvements or actions to maintain market access,” the Minister said.

“We need to be exporting across all sectors of agriculture, collecting premiums for products from beef to mangoes.”

He said the Government will continue to focus on gaining access for Australian producers to premium markets by investing $30.8 million through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper designed to help break down technical barriers to trade.

He also said the Government appointed five new agricultural counsellors in key markets to pave the way for future business dealings in the sector.

“Access to the US, Japanese, Chinese and Korean markets represent great opportunities for Australia’s $110 million a year mango industry,” Mr Joyce added.

“The Australian Mango Industry Association is conducting workshops for crop monitors with support from the Department of Agriculture to ensure they understand the export requirements of these markets so growers can capitalise on export opportunities.”