A cherry supply chain traceability pilot is underway with Cherry Growers Australia and Agriculture Victoria looking to strengthen on-farm traceability for cherry exporters into high-value markets.
The Australian cherry industry has a total value of $189 million and exports worth $79.5 million. At its peak, Victorian cherry growers exported almost 2,000 tonnes to over 30 countries annually at a value of $30.8 million.
Over two years from 2022 to 2024, the pilot will build and protect exports by developing automated and integrated traceability systems that track the product journey from on-farm harvest through to customer. These systems will have the ability to identify product back to a carton or consignment level.
This pilot program will be conducted through a large Victorian producer and exporter, CherryHill Orchards, which will integrate the developing hardware and software technologies into its supply chain to apply this leading traceability technology to its premium cherry brands.
While on-farm traceability is well developed in the cherry industry, it may be a paper-based system and usually ends when cherries enter export countries, preventing Australian producers from tracing their produce and leveraging the value of their brands.
The pilot will run within the Australian cherry industry and will deliver value for all Australian commodity sectors and international markets through:
- Developing technology for the pilot with the potential for future use across the cherry industry;
- development and use of traceability technology with flexibility to be used in many markets;
- implementation of international GS1 standards;
- a communication program; and
- a public report.
CGA treasurer Hugh Molloy welcomed the project and said traceability was pivotal for reinforcing competitiveness in international markets.
“Traceability will enable Australian cherry growers to underpin the provenance, authenticity, food safety and other biosecurity certifications to importing countries, buyers and consumers.
“The traceability information captured in this pilot will underpin the integrity of Australian production systems, enhance our competitiveness in international and domestic markets and facilitate the sharing of our stories from orchard to plate,” said Molloy.
CherryHill Orchards director Stephen Riseborough said, “Traceability technology when developed and implemented well across food and produce industries, will help grow and protect the reputation of our region.”
Technology systems include RFID scanners supplied by RAMP and software from Dialog Information Technology.
GS1 traceability standards will be incorporated into the pilot, enhancing the international compatibility of these supply chains for global exports and domestic markets.
Pete Reinke, CEO for RAMP said leveraging its inventory management software and RFID expertise would help provide CherryHill Orchards with peace of mind in relation to the authenticity of their products.
“CherryHill customers will be assured of purchasing produce of the best quality as the movements of product is tracked from the orchard at harvest time,” said Reinke.
The project is funded through Agriculture Victoria from its Transforming Traceability program, the Victorian government’s $11.7 million commitment to invest in the state’s traceability systems across the agri-food supply chain.
The cherry project follows a similar trial for the table grape industry that was launched in September 2021.
