To build Australia’s reputation for providing a high value, premium product every stage of the chain needs to work together to optimise quality. This project will address how product is transported with the aim to minimise loss of quality and “freshness”, reduce wastage and increase reliability. The main factors influencing arrival quality are harvest quality and transport duration and conditions. However, monitoring of conditions from farm to import customer is rarely done for Australian produce, and there is little assessment or understanding of product quality on arrival, or of its ability to withstand in-country distribution to the retailer and consumer.

This project will increase the value and profitability of Australian horticulture exports by improving the “freshness”, consistency and reputation of Australia’s exports into Asia.