Direct shipments to the Chinese mainland are helping Australian citrus exporters avoid complications with counterfeiting.
Bill Robinson, grower services managerof the Mildura Fruit Company (MFC), told ABC Rural that direct access has helped his company forge strong trade partnerships in the People’s Republic, which has developed into its largest international market.
'It has been [normal] in the past for all companies going through Hong Kong,' Robinson said. 'If you go through Hong Kong, through the grey channels, there would be all sorts of counterfeiting going on.
'Now people are going through the front door to established customers, so there's no counterfeiting going through the front door, but there is going through the grey channels.”
With harvest now underway, MFC anticipates to pack and ship between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnesof citrus this season, with fruit quality expected to be high.
“The general quality, and by that I mean wind blemish and texture, is good and the eating quality in all varieties is very good due to the hot summer we've had,” Robinson explained.
'Overall, the citrus and the easy peel varieties are in good shape, which means if the markets are there, all goes well for a very good season for growers.'
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