The Nation’s melon, onions and vegetable growers have joined forces to develop a $13.7M export development program through Hort Innovation in a time of rising trade capacity within the industries and strong Australian produce demand.

Being delivered through Hort Innovation using industry levies and funds from the Australian Government, and led by vegetable representative body, AUSVEG, with support from Onions Australia and Melons Australia, the five-year initiative will build the industries’ export capability and support their sustainability over time.

The investment Multi-industry export program (Vegetables, Onions and Melons) (MT21009) is working to develop export markets, maintain viable export pathways, develop industry capability and achieve sustained export growth. This cross-industry collaboration is a first for the horticulture sector and will leverage the progress made under the Vegetable industry export program (VG16061).

The program focuses on building export capability and capacity in the vegetable, onion and melon industries, collating international market information for decision-making as well as business development functions to uplift the ability of exporting growers to service a wider range of markets and channels and expand international trade opportunities in the future.

With differing export maturity of businesses across and within the vegetable, onion and melon industries, tailored approaches and pathways will be implemented.

Meet Terry O’Leary, melon grower from Chinchilla, Queensland

Terry O’Leary is a fifth-generation melon grower from Chinchilla in the Western Downs region of Queensland. Terry’s family have been growing melons in the area since 1908 and were the first to successfully grow seedless watermelons in Australia.

What are the main challenges you face regarding exporting melons?

“The main challenges we face, particularly with watermelons, is that they are perceived as a low value commodity and the price is largely based on the cost of shipping them across the globe, which is very difficult to do via sea freight.”

How has being involved in the project helped?

“It’s still early days, as the project only kicked off in June, but I believe the project will help the melon industry to address these issues by highlighting what we’re doing around food safety, traceability and our production standards.”

What are some of the benefits of being involved?

“It’s great to see the melon industry collaborating in this project with the vegetable and onion industries, as any efficiencies or synergies we can utilise will improve our return on investment.”

Why should growers get involved?

“In my experience, making sure you have the right people with the right knowledge on the job makes all the difference. This project will provide the information and insights that are needed for my business, and the melon industry as a whole, to be successful.”

“In my experience, making sure you have the right people with the right knowledge on the job makes all the difference. This project will provide the information and insights that are needed for my business, and the melon industry as a whole, to be successful.” Terry O’Leary, melon grower, QLD