Plan needed to support Australian strawberry industry

Strawberries, they’re the heart-shaped fruit that became the victim of food “terrorism” and now the Federal Government is looking for someone to re-convince the world of their sweetness.

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Strawberries, they’re the heart-shaped fruit that became the victim of food “terrorism” and now the Federal Government is looking for someone to re-convince the world of their sweetness.

Australians are still being encouraged to put the national needle contamination crisis behind them and buy punnets of strawberries as more fruit ripens, ready for picking.

But the need to also protect the country’s strawberry exports to the Asia-Pacific has prompted the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to seek a consultant, who will develop a plan and recommend activities “through grants and procurements” to rebuild consumer confidence.

The tender, released on Monday, states $350,000 has been committed to employ a consultant and support the strawberry industry in its plight to regain and retain market share in key regions.

Fresh strawberry exports last year were valued at $29.7 million with the United Arab Emirates lavishing $5.6 million worth, followed closely by New Zealand at $5.5 million.

The contract is set to be awarded in January with a plan expected to be rolled out around March 2019.

A Queensland woman was this month arrested over a strawberry needle contamination scare that forced supermarkets across Australia to pull fruit from shelves and farmers to dump it by the truckload.

A South Australian man has also had charges laid against him for allegedly making a false claim his daughter ate a contaminated strawberry.

Originally published as Plan needed to support Australian strawberry industry