Australian apple exporters celebrate new market access to Canada

Australian apples will soon be bound for Canada. The government of the Oceanian country struck a new deal detailing market access conditions with the Great White North that require no fumigation or cold treatment.

Through a post on their website, Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), the leading industry body representing Aussie apple and pear growers, celebrated the deal. The organization labeled this new market access as a breakthrough over 10 years in the making, demonstrating the country's ability to manage pests without costly treatments that affect fruit quality.

"This milestone opens new export pathways, supports market diversification, and strengthens opportunities to grow Australian pome fruit exports to high-value international markets,” said APAL CEO Philip Turnbull.

Market access to Canada is another boost for the Australian apple industry. It follows the opening of the Chinese market for mainland apple growers earlier this year, and builds on the Government’s efforts to expand opportunities for Australian farmers and producers on the global stage.

Even though it exports around 15 percent of its total production, Canada is currently a net importer of apples. The majority (80 percent) of pome fruit hitting Canadian shelves comes from the state of Washington in the US.

The rest is supplied by smaller shipments originating from countries such as Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. The opening to Australian exports marks a step towards diversification in the Canadian apple market.  

Export conditions for Australian apples

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (DAFF), updated its Manual of Importing Country Requirements to add Canada apple export requirements at the end of August. 

In the entry, the agency details that the DAFF must accredit growers and packhouses to ship apples to Canada, and they'll only grant authorization to registered orchards that conduct crop monitoring for pests of concern to the North American country, such as light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) and apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella).

The DAFF will inspect Australian apples before shipment, taking a sample representing 600 pieces, or 2 percent of the total volume, to ensure they're free from pests, soil, weed seeds, and extraneous material.​ Shipments will have 14 days to leave for their final destination, where they will be inspected once again by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.  

* All images courtesy of APAL

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