Exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025

Fruit Growers Victoria Ltd (FGV) is the peak industry body representing commercial fruit growers across the state of Victoria, Australia. Headquartered in Shepparton—Victoria’s horticultural heartland—FGV is a not-for-profit, member-based organization providing critical advocacy, technical support, workforce facilitation, and market development services to the state’s fruit industry.

Core Business

FGV plays a strategic role in advancing the interests of Victoria’s fruit sector, particularly pome (apple and pear) and stone fruit producers. It acts as a liaison between growers, government, exporters, research bodies, and international markets. The organization’s core objective is to create a sustainable, profitable, and internationally competitive fruit industry in Victoria.

Product and Service Offerings

• Industry Representation

  • Advocacy at state and federal levels on behalf of fruit growers
  • Policy submissions on biosecurity, labor, sustainability, and trade

• Training and Technical Resources

  • Delivery of orchard management and safety training programs
  • Development of safety videos, orchard best practice modules, and chemical handling guides

• Seasonal Workforce Solutions

  • Assistance with accessing workers via the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program
  • Collaboration with the Department of Employment and Agriculture Victoria to address labor shortages

• Industry Events

  • Annual FGV Conference and orchard field days
  • Export forums, innovation workshops, and grower meetings

• Research & Development Projects

  • Partnerships with Hort Innovation, Agriculture Victoria, and CSIRO on projects related to water use efficiency, pest control, and varietal improvement

• Biosecurity and Compliance

  • Fruit fly management support across regional Victoria
  • IPDM (Integrated Pest and Disease Management) systems guidance
  • Export readiness assessments and pre-clearance protocols

Specialization and USP

FGV’s specialization lies in being an end-to-end service body for growers, from orchard-level guidance to global market facilitation. It brings together data-driven insights, hands-on field extension services, and policy advocacy under one umbrella. FGV is instrumental in Victoria's fight against fruit fly outbreaks and is a leading driver of modern orchard practices that prioritize sustainability, productivity, and international competitiveness.

A major point of difference is its close collaboration with federal and state agencies and researchers, ensuring growers have early access to innovations and regulatory updates.

Financials

As a not-for-profit entity, FGV is primarily funded by:

• Membership fees from over 300 grower businesses
• Government grants for industry development
• Project-based funding from organizations like Hort Innovation

FGV operates within strict budgetary controls, with financial reports audited and published for member transparency. While detailed financials are not publicly disclosed, funding sources are diversified across core operational and project-specific revenues.

Shipment Data

While FGV itself is not an exporter, its member base collectively accounts for a significant portion of Victoria's fruit exports. According to Hort Innovation and ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics):

• Victoria contributes approximately 60% of Australia’s national apple and pear production
• In 2023, over 65,000 tonnes of apples and 25,000 tonnes of pears were exported from Victoria, valued at over AUD $100 million
• FGV supports growers in these exports through export training, certifications, and market access updates

Top export markets supported by Victorian growers include:

• India
• Indonesia
• United Arab Emirates
• Singapore
• China

Target Market

FGV services a broad cross-section of Victoria’s fruit supply chain:

• Commercial fruit growers (pome, stone, and emerging varieties)
• Nurseries and packhouses
• Exporters and marketers
• R&D providers and government stakeholders
• Retailers and food service buyers interested in Victorian produce

The membership is concentrated in key growing regions such as Goulburn Valley, Yarra Valley, Sunraysia, and Gippsland.

Capabilities

• Technical Expertise: Agronomy, pest management, post-harvest technologies
• Digital Tools: Grower dashboards, orchard mapping, and safety video resources
• Labor Facilitation: End-to-end coordination of seasonal worker recruitment and compliance
• Policy Influence: Active involvement in national committees on horticulture development
• Disaster Recovery: Rapid response and support during flood and weather events impacting crops

Certifications and Compliance

FGV assists members in obtaining and maintaining:

• Freshcare and HARPS certifications
• Phytosanitary compliance for exports
• WorkSafe agricultural safety standards

The organization also supports adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives and frameworks aligned with Australia’s Farm Assurance Programs.

Customer Testimonials

Although specific testimonials are not publicly listed, growers and stakeholders frequently acknowledge FGV’s:

• Critical role in responding to the 2022–23 labor crisis
• Efficient delivery of fruit fly management protocols across regional Victoria
• Trusted leadership in securing grant funding for orchard innovation projects

Major Achievements

• Coordinated fruit fly area-wide management plans in over 5 horticulture-intensive zones in Victoria
• Delivered over 30 field-based training workshops in 2023 alone
• Partnered with Hort Innovation on the launch of the national Apple & Pear Maturity Standards Project
• Supported member growers in achieving export readiness for markets such as Thailand and China
• Played a central role in developing the National Fruit Fly Council’s Victoria strategy

Fruit Growers Victoria remains at the forefront of agricultural development in Australia, empowering growers with resources, insights, and tools to succeed in dynamic global markets while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Victoria’s horticultural legacy.