JAPANESE CHERRY PROJECTPRESENTED BY TIM REID

Tim Reid is a fifth generation fruit

apple grower and exported from the

Huon Valley, Tasmania. Reid Fruits

has traditionally grown and

successfully marketed apples to the UK,

Europe and Asian Markets. In the late

90’s to diversify their business, the

Reid’s started down the path of

growing exceptionally high value

Japanese cherry varieties – for the

Japanese Market.

Developing this new market has

meant importing growing stock from

Japan before eventually exporting the

harvested cherries back to Japan.

This process has exposed Tim to the

vagaries of both local and

international quarantine issues and

created headaches along the way with

both countries’ government agencies.

PROJECT CHALLENGES

• Capital Raising

• Importing Plant Material

• Market Access

• Marketing

Activity / Milestone Timing Market access to Japan for Tasmanian grown Japanese

cherries was discussed with AQIS representatives in Canberra, Hobart and Australian embassy in Tokyo.

1998

Legal status of certain Japanese cherry varieties checked with AFFA Plant Breeders Rights data base.

September 1999

Permit from AQIS for Japanese cherry plant material. (Budwood)

September 1999

Procured Budwood from Japan (first two varieties). Secured in

Quarantine at Knoxfield, Victoria

October 1999

Negotiated provision of technical data to support a market access application to Japan with DPIWE

November 1999

Cherry Industry Association support for market access to

Japan

November 1999

Market access priority from the Horticultural Market Access

Committee.

February 2000

Import permit for selected varieties of fresh cherries from

Japan for quarantine fumigation trials

June 2000

Visited Japan June 2000

Conducted fumigation trials at Tasmanian DPIWE July/August 2000

Completed business plan August 2000

AQIS submitted Tasmanian cherry access application to

Japanese MAFF

August 2000

New growth budwood transferred from Knoxfield to AQIS

quarantine site in Tasmania. Grafted on to 200 rootstock in

insect proof polyhouse.

August /September

2000

Purchased trial/commercial cherry site September 2000

Procured budwood for next 2 cherry varieties from Japan and imported to Knoxfield under AQIS permit.

October 2000

AQIS discussed Tasmanian cherry access with Japanese MAFF at

quarantine bilateral in Hobart

November 2000

First two imported varieties in quarantine at Kingston multiplied bygrafting 2500 rootstocks. Transferred new growth budwood from

second two varieties from Knoxfield to Kingston and grafted 200rootstocks

August /September2001

Prepared two hectares for planting at trial site and establishproduction infrastructure to support trial

November 2001-June2002

First two Japanese cherry varieties released from quarantine July 2002

Established two-hectare trial orchard. (One hectare of each variety)Includes vermin fencing, irrigation and trellising

July/August 2002

Multiplied second two imported varieties in quarantine at Kingston

by grafting to 2500 root stocks

August/September

2002

Established second two hectare trial orchard July/August 2003

Develop packaging requirements July 2004

Erect bird netting over first two hectares planted September 2004

Erect raincovers over first two hectares September 2004

Establish quarantine and packing infrastructure July 2004 – Nov 2004

AQIS gain market access to Japan for selected varieties ofTasmanian grown cherries

December 2004

First harvest and trail shipment of first two varieties. December2004/January 2005

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JAPANESE CHERRY PROJECTJAPANESE CHERRY PROJECTJAPANESE CHERRY PROJECTJAPANESE CHERRY PROJECT

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