Exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025

Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc. is the peak industry body representing Tasmania’s commercial fruit growers. Headquartered in North Hobart, the organization plays a crucial role in supporting the growth, profitability, and sustainability of Tasmania’s fruit sector. Established as a not-for-profit membership-based association, Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT) acts as a central platform for advocacy, market development, quality assurance, biosecurity, and export facilitation for the island state's diverse fruit producers.

Core Business

FGT serves as the authoritative voice of Tasmania’s fruit growing community, encompassing growers of apples, cherries, berries, stone fruits, and emerging crops such as niche tropical and subtropical fruits. The organization liaises between industry stakeholders, government bodies, research institutions, and international trade agencies to ensure that the interests of Tasmanian growers are effectively represented and advanced.

Product and Service Offerings

• Industry Advocacy and Policy Development

  • Represents growers in state and national policy discussions
  • Provides submissions and policy advice on water access, land use, labor, and export regulations

• Export Readiness and Trade Promotion

  • Supports market access initiatives in countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Canada
  • Hosts inbound buyer missions and outbound trade delegations
  • Coordinates participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions

• Biosecurity and Compliance

  • Implements fruit fly prevention and surveillance programs in collaboration with Biosecurity Tasmania
  • Facilitates compliance with protocols under export standards like Australia’s Plant Export Operations Manual

• Grower Services

  • Conducts training workshops on pest management, food safety, and post-harvest handling
  • Provides seasonal produce planning tools and weather risk alerts
  • Assists with recruitment of seasonal labor under the PALM scheme

• Information and Data Services

  • Publishes the Tasmanian Seasonal Produce Guide
  • Maintains crop forecasting and industry performance metrics
  • Distributes market intelligence and pricing data to members

Specialization and USP

Tasmania’s unique geographic and climatic conditions—cool temperate climate, long daylight hours, and pristine environment—create ideal growing conditions for premium fruit. FGT leverages this regional advantage to position Tasmanian fruit as clean, green, and high-quality in competitive international markets.

The association is uniquely positioned to integrate:

• Scientific research (through partnerships with institutions like the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture)
• Export certification
• Grower engagement into a cohesive service framework for its members.

Financials

As a not-for-profit industry body, Fruit Growers Tasmania is primarily funded through:

• Membership subscriptions
• Project grants from the Tasmanian and Australian Governments
• Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) research and development levies

Its activities are aligned with grant-funded outcomes and strategic goals set in collaboration with stakeholders. Specific financial figures are not disclosed publicly but are governed under not-for-profit financial compliance rules.

Shipment Data

While FGT itself does not export products, it plays a pivotal role in facilitating the fruit export process. According to Hort Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

• Tasmania exported over 6,400 tonnes of cherries in the 2023 season, valued at over AUD $60 million
• Apple exports from Tasmania totaled approximately 2,300 tonnes, valued at AUD $5.4 million

These exports were primarily destined for markets including China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, UAE, and Canada. FGT’s export services contributed to achieving market access, logistical planning, and compliance assurance for these shipments.

Target Market

FGT primarily serves:

• Commercial fruit growers (small to large-scale)
• Exporters and packhouses
• Industry service providers
• Government and trade authorities
• International buyers seeking Tasmanian produce

It operates across Tasmania, with members concentrated in growing regions such as Huon Valley, Derwent Valley, Tamar Valley, and the Northwest Coast.

Capabilities

• Strong industry network of over 250 grower and associate members
• Liaison and advisory capabilities with state and federal authorities
• Operational leadership in fruit fly biosecurity response across Tasmania
• International trade facilitation, including export protocols and inspection readiness
• Strategic communication with real-time alerts, market updates, and grower newsletters

Certifications and Compliance

FGT supports members in meeting:

• HACCP and Freshcare food safety certifications
• Phytosanitary compliance under Australia's export standards
• Tasmania's Fruit Fly Free status, a critical advantage in premium export markets

It also collaborates with the Department of Agriculture to uphold Australia’s stringent quarantine protocols.

Customer Testimonials

Direct testimonials are not publicly listed, but feedback gathered from industry events and reports has emphasized:

• FGT’s strong support during the 2022–2023 labor shortages
• Its critical role in coordinating biosecurity responses during regional pest incursions
• High satisfaction from international buyers during hosted inbound missions

Major Achievements

• Successfully maintained Tasmania’s fruit fly free status—a critical market access asset
• Played a pivotal role in opening Vietnam and Thailand to Tasmanian cherries
• Coordinated Tasmania's horticulture recovery efforts after extreme weather events
• Delivered over 30 industry training events in the 2023 calendar year
• Published the Tasmanian Seasonal Produce Guide, promoting regional produce to global markets

Fruit Growers Tasmania continues to lead as a central pillar of the island’s fruit industry, enabling world-class horticultural practices, securing high-value export opportunities, and championing the interests of Tasmania’s growers in an evolving global landscape.