Over the last 60-plus years, Premium Fresh has grown from a small farming enterprise owned by the Ertler family, to one of the largest growing, washing, grading and packing operations in Australia.
At its 10,000-square-metre factory in Forth, Tasmania, the latest technology is used to pack over 30,000 tonnes of carrots, onions, swedes, turnips, shallots, leeks, broccoli and echalions every year.
Premium Fresh is a fully vertically integrated operation, managing all stages from cultivation and harvesting to packing and marketing. This ensures complete control, consistency, and traceability across the entire supply chain.
Australia's counter-seasonality advantage
Premium Fresh takes advantage of Australia's counter-seasonality to export produce to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The importance of EU destinations is growing. The uncertainty of more variable climatic conditions has now meant that EU buyers are looking to lock in purchases with Southern Hemisphere producers. However, margins are tight as a result of the high competition within the EU retail market.
Making Australian exports more competitive
Significant tariffs on Australia's fresh and sustainably produced horticulture have impaired Australia's ability to compete on a more level playing field in the EU market.
As a result of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), tariffs on vegetables - such as the 9.6% tariff on onions, and 13.6% tariff on carrots - will be eliminated immediately on entry into force of the agreement.
The A-EU FTA will help horticultural exporters such as Premium Fresh to be more competitive in EU markets.
'Tariff reductions under the A-EU FTA will enable us to look at expanding our exports to the EU,' says Jim Ertler, Managing Director, Premium Fresh.
'The FTA will reduce the costs of exporting Tasmanian produce and assist in strengthening the demand for Tasmanian product. It will allow Premium Fresh to build volume and resulting efficiencies.'
The free trade agreement with the EU will open up a high-income market of around 450 million people to Australian horticultural products. It will provide Australian horticultural exporters with a competitive edge and improved access to the EU market. Learn more about the A-EU FTA.
