SA stone fruit set to go big in Vietnam as Australia reaches a new export breakthrough, fruit fly outbreak officially over in Adelaide

Fruit can freely move across all Adelaide suburbs as the fruit-fly outbreak is officially declared over from today. Meanwhile, Vietnam has opened its borders to SA peaches and nectarines.

Fruit can freely move across all metropolitan suburbs from today as a two-year battle to contain fruit fly outbreaks across Adelaide has officially ended.

Until this week, stringent restrictions on fruit movement remained in Ridleyton, after the restrictions were eased in 170 Adelaide suburbs in December.

Minister Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham, thanked the community for their co-operation as the last Ridleyton outbreak was contained.

“There are still Queensland fruit fly outbreaks affecting the Riverland so I ask those living in those areas as well as the surrounding region to carefully check the map on the fruit fly website,” Mr Basham said.

“Those within the red outbreak zone still can’t move fruit and vegetables from their properties but those within the yellow areas can. Make sure you don’t move fruit out of a yellow area into a green.”

Providing there are no further detections, the Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in Pike River and Renmark West will end on May 6.

Since 2019 about 350 staff were employed and visited nearly 200,000 homes, releasing nearly 700 million sterile flies, costing the state government $70m.

Meanwhile, stone fruit growers have been handed a much needed lifeline as the burgeoning Vietnamese market finally opens up for trade after seven years of fierce negotiations.

Riverland growers, who have been hit hard with fruit fly outbreaks, hail storms and Covid-induced labour shortages, welcomed the federal government’s announcement that peach and nectarine exporters have at last been given market access into Vietnam, which halted fresh fruit imports at the start of 2015.

Summerfruit SA chairman Jason Size said the breakthrough would be a “huge help” for the state’s stone fruit industry next summer.

Peaches and nectarines have been given the green light for exports into Vietnam.

The Fruit fly restrictions are officially over in Adelaide - Ellie Jung, 6, and Drew, 9, in their backyard with fruit from their trees. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“This gives us the extra advantage of moving fruit to a market that is not domestic,” Mr Size said.

“Vietnam looks like it’s going to be a really good option for growers who currently export.”

In January 2015, Vietnam abruptly stopped importing fresh fruit from Australia over concerns of a Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak at the time.

Vietnam then introduced a “protocol market”, meaning the country had to conduct tedious risk assessments for all fresh fruit imported from Australia.

For seven long years, the federal government conducted intense, technical negotiations with the Vietnamese government, eventually breaking down the country’s barriers for peaches and nectarines on Monday.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the breakthrough would support the livelihoods of regional communities, particularly SA’s Riverland.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Vietnam was a “priority market” for Australian fresh fruit.

“Vietnam is a priority market for premium Australian fresh fruit,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The growing middle class there has a strong demand for high quality, affordable and convenient fresh foods, a demand our farmers are able and willing to meet.”

Mr Littleproud said trial exports would begin during the tail end of this stone fruit season, before opening up fully next summer.

Summerfruit chief executive Trevor Ranford said Vietnam was ripe with export opportunities and expected the market to only grow over the years, with Australian farmers predicted to eventually export up to 5000 tonnes of stone fruit each year.

Mr Ranford hoped apricot and plum exports to Vietnam would also resume soon.

Colourful peach fruits growing on a peach tree in the garden.

SA Trade Minister Stephen Patterson said the state’s fresh fruit was recognised around the world as “clean, premium and sustainable produce”.

“News of Australian peach and nectarine exporters gaining market access into Vietnam could present Riverland growers with excellent new opportunities to get their produce into this market,” he said.

In 2021, South Australia exported almost $3m worth of peaches and nectarines to 12 countries around the world, with the largest importers being China, Singapore and Malaysia.

SA exported $402.2m worth of merchandise to Vietnam last year, making it the state’s 12th largest market.

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