According to growers, Yarra Valley's Pest Free Place of Production has been a success. The PFPP allows strawberry, cherry and rubus growers to export interstate and there are about 20 business accredited to be part of program.
Funding for the program will be discussed at a meeting this month. Currently, 70 per cent of the Yarra Valley PFPP is funded by the industry with the Victorian Government contributing the remaining 30 per cent.
Silvan berry and cherry grower Steve Chapman said funding for the program was available for the next 18 months but a meeting would be held in March to discuss avenues for future funding, which could include a more commercial focus with growers contributing.
“The program has been a big success and being able to export domestically has been great and what we would like to be able to do from here is export internationally.
“Currently, we can’t export to Japan or China and we need to be able to get some kind of international recognition for the program.”
Queensland fruit fly was declared endemic to Victoria in July 2013 and affected growers across the state but particularly in the Yarra Valley where there is no fruit fly and a large chunk of Victoria’s berries are grown.
Yarra Valley growers lost their interstate markets — about 25 per cent of their trade.
But Mr Chapman said fruit fly had been making its way further south because of climate change but the district had managed to remain fruit fly free.
According to the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources accredited Yarra Valley growers can send their produce to fruit fly sensitive markets without the need to treat it for Queensland fruit fly.
