Local growers swapped the morning farm routine for the city commute on Wednesday, handing out fresh fruit to workers in a push to support WA grown produce.
The Stonefruit WA season launch comes just one week after the detection of an invasive fruit fly in the southern suburbs.
Perth NRM sustainable agriculture manager David Broadhurst, G&A Padula and son orchardist Mick Padula, Stonefruit WA chair Anthony Caccetta and Karragullen orchardist Danny Di Marco promoting WA Stonefruit in Yagan Square, November 27, 2024Credit: Claire Ottaviano
Queensland fruit fly attacks more than 300 species of fruits and vegetables with potential to seriously impact Western Australia’s $1.75 billion horticulture industry.
Third generation Karragullen orchardist Danny Di Marco said the discovery of Qfly was an extremely timely reminder of the importance of protecting WA’s agricultural industry by showing support at the check-out.
“We pick in the morning and that night it’s at the wholesaler, and it’s on the shelves of the shop virtually the next day,” he said.
“So what more of a fresh product would you want? Why would you be buying something from over east or from overseas that’s probably been fumigated because of our custom laws and whatnot, or trucked over the Nullarbor for weeks before it’s on the shelf.”
The push to buy local comes as new data, revealed to WAtoday by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, revealed more than 1600 lines of imported produce had been detained by border control in the past year.
More than 250 lines did not comply with WA import requirements and were treated, re-exported or destroyed.
In the past year, four sanctions were handed to commercial consignments that did not meet relevant import conditions, including one infringement and three warnings.