From left: Program Country Manager – Fiji, Navitalai Tuivuniwai, NWC General Manager, Donald Pickering, Program Team Leader, John Brownlee and Program Manager – Biosecurity, Quality & Standards, Lennard Powell during the official signing of the partnership.

Fresh produce exports from Fiji will soon benefit from an upgraded treatment facility, following a new partnership agreement signed between Nature’s Way Cooperative (Fiji) Ltd and the Australian and New Zealand supported Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) Program.

Announced yesterday by New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon during his first official visit to Fiji, the partnership focuses on upgrading the software, hardware, and operational processes at Nature’s Way Cooperative’s High Temperature Forced Air (HTFA) facility in Nadi.

HTFA is a heat treatment process used to prepare fresh produce that is susceptible to fruit fly infestation for export to countries that are either fruit fly free or have restrictions on the importation of fruit fly susceptible fresh produce. To manage biosecurity risks, produce including papaya, eggplant, mango, and breadfruit must be treated at Nature’s Way Cooperative’s HTFA facility before being exported to Australia, New Zealand and other markets.

In the future, the partnership will focus on expanding the HTFA treatments provided and the range of fruit and vegetables that are being treated. This will be complemented by support to be provided to the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways for upgrades to their research scale HTFA unit.

Nature’s Way Cooperative is currently the only provider of HTFA treatments in Fiji, treating approximately 500 tonnes of fresh produce, with an estimated export value of AUD720,374 per annum.

“Given that only 6% by volume and 8% by value of all papaya, mango, breadfruit and eggplant grown in Fiji is currently treated at NWC, there is significant scope to absorb more supply and provide more effective services to exporters, which could increase trade and improve returns for our local growers,” said NWC General Manager Donald Pickering

PHAMA Plus Country Manager in Fiji Navitalai Tuivuniwai said: “There is tremendous potential to boost national income, economic growth and rural livelihoods once the upgraded HTFA facility is completed.”

The partnership activities have been developed by PHAMA Plus and Nature’s Way Cooperative’s together with Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries based on the findings of a review conducted by Plant and Food Research New Zealand in 2019 and follow-up consultations in late 2023.  On-going coordination for the upgrades will be assisted by an Engagement Group being established between these parties as well as representatives of exporters and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Country Manager – Fiji, Navitalai Tuivuniwai at n.tuivuniwai@phamaplus.com.au