A delegation of Queensland strawberry growers recently traveled to Indonesia to better understand the supply chain and identify opportunities for exporting the fruit. 

A release from the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association (QSGA) highlighted the supply chain from the Australian state to the Indonesian capital Jakarta was "complex".

It said this was because there were currently no direct flights to Jakarta from Brisbane, treatments to address fruit fly were required prior to export, and there were strict regulations imposed by the Indonesian government including no direct access to supermarkets.

Adding to the complexity is the high quality standards expected by consumers and the very short shelf life of strawberries, it said.

QSGA chairman Luigi Coco said he was surprised at the sophistication of the supply chain in Indonesia and excited about the opportunities for Australian strawberry growers.

“The Australian strawberries arrived on the shelves of Ranch Market and The Food Hall supermarkets, which are both considered high-end supermarkets, in great condition," he said.

The tour gave the Queensland growers the opportunity to meet with importers, trade officials, consumers and the owners of the supermarkets so that they can better understand the market requirements.

Trade and Investment Queensland and Austrade also organized meetings with the Owner of Ranch Market and a store manager from The Food Hall.

Indonesia has a population of 261 million, with more than Australia’s entire population residing in the city of Jakarta. The wealthy Indonesians and international expats located in Jakarta appreciate the clean, green and safe reputation that Australian-grown fresh produce has, according to the QSGA.

“The relationships that we established may provide an opportunity for year round supply of consistently good quality strawberries, as well as opportunistic supply during our winter-production months," Coco said.

Follow up trips are already being planned with the hope for strong industry outcomes for Queensland and Australian strawberry growers exporting to Indonesia.

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