Chile and South Africa have experienced 20 per cent growth in recent years while Australian sales have declined 30 per cent, Ms Buffinton said. Exporters have also concentrated on the Asian market. People don't realise they're going to be competing on price with all these people they feel are a little bit too tough competition. But we're going to be competing with them on our doorstep in Asia and inside our house almost immediately. Mr Tim Blackburn, former managing director of Britain's largest importer and distributor of fruit and vegetables, said the counter-seasonal market is still developing.
Opportunities exist for apples, oranges, pears and plums.
But despite his apple prices slumping 50 per cent this year, Mr Gapes doesn't have faith in exporting. Over the years we've shied away from it because the money's not good enough. Privacy Policy Copyright 2000.