Riverland citrus and table grape producers in South Australia will gain access to a faster and more cost-effective export route following the establishment of a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry accredited cold storage facility at Edinburgh Parks, developed through a partnership between Flinders Port Holdings and Lineage.
Until now, South Australia lacked a DAFF-approved cold storage facility capable of handling fruit and vegetables for international export.
As a result, approximately 90 percent of the state’s citrus and table grape production destined for overseas markets has been routed through Victoria, with producers transporting their crops to Mildura and other Victorian cold storage sites before shipping via the Port of Melbourne.
The new arrangement eliminates this detour, allowing Riverland producers to deliver their produce to Edinburgh Parks within two to three hours and export directly through Port Adelaide.
Richard Brine, Group Business Development Manager at Flinders Port Holdings, noted that the cost differential between the existing Victorian route and the new South Australian pathway is material for producers competing in global markets.
He highlighted the example of exporters based in Waikerie, currently required to transport produce to Victoria before rail freight to Melbourne, a process that the new facility renders unnecessary.
Lineage has received full DAFF accreditation as a plant registered establishment for fruit export and cold treatment, covering all major export protocol destinations including China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United States and key South East Asian markets.
Beyond cost savings, the development introduces an additional supply chain option for South Australian producers, improving resilience and reducing dependence on a single export corridor.
Flinders Port Holdings owns and operates the Adelaide Container Terminal alongside seven ports across South Australia.
