Emma Germano

Export opportunities for Australian vegetable growers

A consumer-targeted marketing approach and more finely honed commercial skills are required for Australia’s $3.6 billion vegetable industry to prosper according to scholar and Gippsland vegetable producer, Emma Germano. Located in Victoria’s Mirboo North, Ms Germano is the Managing Director of ‘I Love Farms’, a family business supplying cauliflower and potato crops for the Australian eastern seaboard fresh market.

"There’s been a real push for more international trade at both government and industry level, but there’s always more that could be done. Opening up more opportunities via trade agreements and reducing technical barriers to entry will be necessary for Australia’s vegetable sector to realise its full potential. Industry also has a key role to play particularly in forging and maintaining good business relationships that are based on trust and mutual benefit. Building closer ties with importers helps to mitigate risks associated with global transactions and smooth out supply challenges such as fluctuations with the foreign exchange rate and changes to the operating environment.