Aussies on song

Last season, the UK imported 488 tonnes of Australian stonefruit, which represented 75 per cent of the total exported to the European Union. This volume has risen rapidly from less than 100t in 1999. A difficult beginning to the 2003-4 season has been characterised by frost and hail. Most hopes are therefore pinned on the later season crop and Tommy Leighton talks to exporters about their prospects ñ both this year and in the future ñ in the UK market.