Exporters receive a shorter route to market after state gains first DAFF-accredited facility
South Australian fresh produce exporters have gained a major supply chain upgrade after Lineage secured a cold treatment certification from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for its Edinburgh Parks facility.
It is the first DAFF-accredited facility of its kind in the state. Growers and exporters have previously relied on transporting produce to Victoria to access cold storage providers offering the required cold treatment services.
Michael Pastore, Lineage regional business development manager, said South Australian growers – particularly those in the key production region of the Riverland – now have an alternative route to market via Port Adelaide, which is a more efficient and cost-effective way to reach international markets.
“DAFF’s certification for the cold treatment process for exporting horticultural products (such as citrus or grapes) involves a strict, audited procedure to ensure products meet DAFF’s export protocols and the biosecurity requirements of importing countries, particularly for pests like fruit fly. This development means exporters can complete DAFF-accredited cold treatment onsite and move product efficiently to Port Adelaide for export,” said Pastore.
Lineage has worked with Flinders Port Holdings (FPH) – owner and operator of the port of Port Adelaide, the state’s six key regional ports and Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal (FACT) – to engage with export customers and develop a model that will harness the full potential of the facility.
“Together, the (Lineage and FPH) teams have developed a streamlined supply chain model, redirecting exports back through South Australian ports, designed to deliver meaningful financial benefits for growers and exporters, helping them remain competitive in a highly commoditised global market,” explained Pastore.
“Facilitating these exports from Lineage Edinburgh Parks comes down to four pillars: compliance (treatment), logistics, documentation, and commercial readiness.
“Alongside storage and transport, our team also supports with getting produce cleared for departure, working behind the scenes to prepare all the necessary documentation to ensure a seamless export process.”
The service is expected to be fully operational from April, aligning with the start of the citrus season. Lineage expects citrus, table grapes and stonefruit will be the main categories to benefit from the newly accredited facility, with exporters able to target markets including New Zealand, the US, Canada, China, Japan, and Korea, as well as any non‑protocol destinations across South-East Asia.
“This newly introduced service from Lineage provides exporters with a significantly shorter transport route from the Riverland to Edinburgh Parks, delivering meaningful transport cost savings and faster lead times to meet critical shipping schedules,” said Pastore.
“By reducing time in transit to port, the service also offers a more competitive export pathway with less impact on fruit quality and overall shelf-life.”
