Last week, Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert launched the Now! In Season program for promoting Victoria's fruit in Indonesia. The launch took place at Hypermarket, one of Jakarta's leading supermarkets.
Now! In Season focuses on Victoria’s access to quality soil, a continual supply of clean water, strict safety regulations and innovative farm practices.
Its aim is to demonstrate the high quality of Victoria's fruit to Indonesia, the Asia-Pacific, Japan and the US.
Export figures show 19,000 tonnes of Victorian fruits were exported to Indonesia last year. Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said Victoria was Australia’s leading food and fibre exporter.
A Victorian Government spokesman said factors such as Victoria’s proximity to Indonesia meant the state could offer a counter-seasonal supply of fruit to the northern hemisphere.
“Victoria grows 90 per cent of Australia’s pears, 45 per cent of its apples and in the period 2014-15, total global fruit exports from Victoria reached $369 million dollars,” the spokesman said.
