The signing of this week's trade deal between the US and China has come as an insult to Australian blueberry growers as they watch their American counterparts accessing the greatest growth market in the world.
Berries Australia President, Peter McPherson said there was no political will to deliver this market to growers - most of whom produce below the cost of production during peak harvest periods.
"Blueberries have been second on the Australian Government's China horticultural export market access priority list after apples since October 2017, with an initial application lodged as far back as 2010. However, progress toward negotiating the export protocol has been slow, despite the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources," said McPherson.
At the moment only Tasmania can export to China because the state is designated fruit fly free, although there was an incursion into the Launceston area last year.
For mainland Australia and in particular the sweeter growing districts on the North Coast, fruit fly is a block to trade, with x-ray irradiation unacceptable. Long sea voyages in cold storage will also kill fruit fly larvae at the expense of freshness. Methyl bromide spray is still acceptable in those Asian countries as a fruit fly mitigant and yet it is more dangerous than an x-ray.
Mr McPherson said the case for market access was clear. The Australian blueberry has already been number one for 13 years in Japan until the fruit fly and medfly issue became a trade barrier in 2011.
"There is political rebuff at the moment. This delay is not from a lack of work by the DPI. It is very political," he said.
Detailed research commissioned by the Australian Blueberry Growers Association (ABGA) in 2017 into the demand for Australian grown blueberries in China revealed that there is a strong and growing market.
The research conducted by Knudsen and Co and presented in a report titled 'China's Market for Australian Blueberries - A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity' confirmed there is an existing and growing Chinese demand for Australian blueberries that recognises the superior taste, size, food safety and nutritional value of Australian grown blueberries.
"It is very frustrating for the industry knowing that we have a superior product to have to sit by and watch on as a number of other countries have negotiated access for their blueberries into China," said Mr McPherson.
"Countries including Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico and now the US have all obtained access. It is time for the Australian Government to take a whole of government approach in their trade negotiations with China, including the negotiating of access for blueberries at the highest political levels between the two the countries," said Mr McPherson.
