$4.5m biosecurity and treatment centre planned for South Australian Market planned in fruit fly fight

A “biosecurity precinct” at one of SA’s biggest produce markets – allowing it to check and fumigate fruit onsite – is the latest in the fight to stop fruit fly taking over.

The SA Produce Market is planning a $4.5m“biosecurity precinct” featuring a treatment centre, as the state’s battle with fruit fly rages on.

Market chief executive Angelo Demasi says the operation has already spent $800,000 on upgrades to reduce the fruit fly infestation risk, and he hopes the wider upgrade will be complete by this time next year.

It would allow fruit to be inspected on site and if the pest was found, produce could be fumigated.

The move points to the long-term nature of the state’s fight to eradicate fruit fly, following the establishment of 11 outbreak areas in Adelaide and five in the Riverland.

SA Produce Market chief executive Angelo Demasi with citrus specialist Pete Mercurio of Bache Bros. Picture: Mike Burton

The Ridleyton outbreak zone is due to be in place until at least November, but restrictions will be in place until December in all other areas – and they will only be reversed if no further detections are made.

“They can’t lift any of the outbreak areas in metropolitan Adelaide until all of them are free of fruit fly and that’s going to be a massive task,” Mr Demasi said.

“It looks like fruit fly is here to stay until December.

“We’re planning to ensure that we can move forward if it does get out of control.”

Mr Demasi said there was no permanent fumigation centre in SA, but they existed in Victoria and Queensland where “fruit fly is rampant”.

He said the organisation would seek State Government funding to help pay for the new facilities.

The market has already introduced rapid lift doors, new evaporative cooling and has made changes to fire ventilation to reduce the risk of flies moving through the area.

Produce must also be stored at below 13C.

Fruit sales are down about 10 per cent at the market, amid limitations on where people can take fruit if they live in a restricted area.

Mr Demasi said produce market tenants had spent $1m –$2m on upgrades to comply with fruit fly rules amid the outbreaks.

Kingsley Songer, general manager of 4 Ways Fresh Produce, said converting its display area at the Pooraka market into a cool room cost the business about $200,000.

Mr Songer predicts fruit movement restrictions will be in place beyond December.

“I can’t see any reason why we’re not going to see further incursions once the weather starts warming up again,” he said.

“It was so far spread across the metropolitan area you’ve just got to think that it’s going to be very difficult to control that.”

The State Government has spent more than $27m fighting the current outbreaks, including baiting, stripping backyard fruit trees and releasing sterile flies.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the Government was doing everything it could to protect the thousands of jobs and businesses in the horticulture sector.

“The Government is confident regarding the efforts to eradicate fruit fly from South Australia before Christmas and we will continue to work closely with industry to consider all options to assist with this wide-scale response,” he said.

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