ASIA's hunger for Australian nuts is setting new records, but the industry needs stricter quality control to really crack the export market .
That was the message at the Australian Nut Conference in Sydney where packagers, producers and processors gathered to discuss ways forward for industry in the wake of free trade agreements in Korea, Japan and China.
In 2013-14 the industry's export value was over $650 million, and is now approaching $1 billion, according to Australian Nut Industry Council chief executive Jolyon Burnett.
Mr Burnett said the industry has achieved “phenomenal” growth in the past decade and to make the most of the next one quality must be maintained.
“We have to do good business, not just more business,” he said.
At the heart of delivering customers premium quality nuts (at a premium price) was packaging.
Pam Brook, macadamia grower and producer of gourmet macadamia products under the Brookfarm banner, Byron Bay, said packaging costs were worth every cent because the contents are so valuable.
“You don’t have a choice; you need to protect your product at all costs,” Mrs Brook said.
“Quality is driving the market place today just as much as price is.”
Harris Farms co-chief executive Tristan Harris said the packaging and presentation of nuts affected retailers dramatically.
He said nuts (kernel) presented in closed-displays could sell up to 80 per cent less than if presented in bins.
However, due to health regulations the latter is not allowed.
He said retailers, suppliers and producers had to work together to get their packaging and their marketing right to boost domestic consumption of nuts.
Mr Burnett said there is an opportunity to increase awareness of the health benefits of nuts here and overseas. But higher production is needed to capitalise on any growth in demand.
“We need to drive production of existing orchards as hard as we can. Productivity rates of our top growers show there’s significant room to improve across the board.”
