Mango growers received more good news, as the first trays of the season sold for more than $100 each, when the Indonesian market was reopened to mango exports from Australia. "We've had access to Indonesia a number of years ago, but regulations changed, so we're very excited to be back in business in that part of the world,” said Robert Gray, president of the Australian Mango Industry Association.
Indonesia does grow mangoes, but timing is different to the Australian production season, and there are a number of varieties available in Australia that aren’t grown in Indonesia, Mr Gray added. “Australia’s unique advantage in the global mango market is bringing its unique, KP based genetics to the world,” he told ABC’s Matt Bran in an interview. Other varieties including R2E2 and Calypso are also expected to be shipped to Indonesia this season. The aim will be to target quality imports and not ‘overwhelm’ the Indonesian market, according to Mr Gray.
Mangoes being exported from Australia will have to be treated for fruitfly and seed weevil, and there is no word from the AMIA yet on how many growers will be seeking to export to Indonesia. Growers will be able to start exports from this year, and the first crop from the Northern Territory is just weeks away from being ready for harvest.
With a population of 250 million, Mr Gray told the ABC that even a small number of those enjoying Australian mangoes would be a real boost to the industry. He also spoke of how the US market took a number of years of work to break into, but growers were hopeful of increasing exports to 20% of national production by the year 2020 because of the efforts made.
At least one exporter, United Exports, confirmed to Fresh Plaza that they would look into exporting mangoes to Indonesia now that the market has reopened. Others, including Pinata Farms, said they concentrate on other markets, and would wait for more information from the AMIA before considering any change.
