Build on Asian market: Joyce

Potential increased access to Asian export markets should lead to more vegetable growers setting up in Geraldton, says Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

The Federal Nationals leader made the comments in Geraldton recently, while touring the 4WAYS Fresh growing site just outside of town.

He said free trade agreements with various Asian nations should open the door for more development.

“It’s not just horticulture, there’s also an incredible economic benefit,” he said.

“There’s no point just growing something and hoping somebody overseas will buy it — they’ve got to be allowed to buy it and then the protocols have got to be put in place to allow them to export it.”

Most of 4WAYS Fresh’s produce is sent back to South Australia, where the company originated, but chief executive Duy Ly said the demand for capsicum in New Zealand meant the business was also looking at exporting there in the future.

However, he said while the business’ first capsicum season was promising, it needed to expand to make exporting produce a long-term viable option.

“We need to build enough greenhouses to produce enough volume to have the export market even entertaining it,” he said.

“We can’t grow a couple of tonnes and export that — they wouldn’t look at it. They need five to 10 tonnes a week.”

Aside from the planned expansion of greenhouses, Mr Ly said 4WAYS Fresh had also approached other growers in the area to try to work together to generate enough produce, and was calling for more investment in the region.

“We’re telling everybody to come here. Some growers don’t want us to say that, but it is a good growing area and I think ‘let’s be open about it’,” he said.

“Let people come in and invest because Geraldton should be a major player in greenhouse production and people need to know.”

Mr Ly said 4WAYS Fresh should complete its planned expansion of 60 greenhouses by the end of the year, which would bring its total up to 160.

Its initial aim was to have 300 greenhouses but that has been delayed by unexpected water costs, while sourcing enough labour will also be a concern once the expansion is complete.