Australian Fresh Produce Alliance

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Australian Fresh Produce Alliance
Australian Fresh Produce Alliance Ltd [1]
Founded14 March 2019;6 years ago (2019-03-14)
Headquarters Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Location
  • Australia
Members11 Companies
Website freshproduce.org.au

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) is a national organisation representing major growers and suppliers in the industry of fresh fruit and vegetables in Australia. Founded in 2019, the AFPA was established to provide a unified voice on issues affecting the production, supply, and sustainability of fresh produce for both domestic and export markets. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Formation & early advocacy (2019–2020)

AFPA was launched in March 2019 by fourteen 'member companies', consisting of 2PH Farms, Costa Group, Driscoll's, Freshmax, Fresh Produce Group, Fresh Select, Mackays, Montague, One Harvest, Perfection Fresh, Piñata Farms, Premier Fresh Australia (then 'LaManna Premier Group'), Rugby Farms, Mitolo Group. At the time of the founding, the member companies collectively represented approximately 50% of the industry’s value, generating more than $4.5 billion annually and employing around 15,000 people across 100 regional communities. [4] [5]

Later in August 2019, Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie publically asked the standing Committee on Agriculture & Water Resources of the Australian Government to inquire into and report on growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030. [6] Following the announcement, the AFPA quickly engaged in policy discussions, submitting recommendations on harvest labour services and contributing to the Agriculture to 2030 inquiry. [7] [8]

Expansion and Influence (2021–2025)

From 2021 onwards, the AFPA strengthened its role as a key horticulture advocate, after publishing white papers on sustainability and domestic consumption trends, addressed issues such as Food and Grocery Code of Conduct reforms and modern slavery risk management in supply chains, along with multiple politcal and international supply achievements. Notbale achievements that were influenced by the AFPA included:

Board & Member companies

Member companies

The below list of companies make up the eleven 'member companies', in which more than 20'000 employees and grower supplier network of over 1'000 growers are represented: [24]

  

Board

NameMember Company
Richard ClaytonAustralian Produce Partners
Anthony Di Pietro Premier Fresh Australia
Jon Gleeson Driscoll's
Matt HoodRugby Farm
Stephen MackayMackays Marketing
Scott MontagueMD Montague
Anthony PoinerFresh Produce Group
Gavin ScurrPiñata Farms
Michael SimonettaPerfection Fresh Australia
Marc Werner Costa Group

List of presidents

NameTermMember Company
Harry Debney [25] [26] 2019 Costa Group
Michael Simonetta [27] [28] 2020Perfection Fresh
Anthony Di Pietro [29] [30] 2021 Premier Fresh Australia
John Said [31] [32] 2022Fresh Select
Scott Montague [33] [34] 2023MD Montague
Gavin Scurr [35] [36] 2024Piñata Farms
Richard Clayton [37] [38] 2025Australian Produce Partners

References

  1. https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchText=631297642
  2. https://freshproduce.org.au/about/
  3. https://ausveg.com.au/article/ausveg-welcomes-announcement-of-australian-fresh-produce-alliance/
  4. https://freshproduce.org.au/__static/90ab0d377021c5e311c539f0690b9b2e/afpa-white-paper-2019%282%29.pdf?dl=1
  5. https://freshproduce.org.au/__static/215a5ff7b2c513d70efa47cf037dfe90/media-release-afpa-launch-australian-fresh-produce-alliance-18-march-2019.pdf
  6. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Former_Committees/Standing_Committee_on_Agriculture_and_Water_Resources/Agriculturegrowth
  7. https://costagroup.com.au/2019/12/10/growing-a-healthier-australia/
  8. https://freshproduce.org.au/__static/65f81d7fd1ba6e73d1ec01f0fdb9c54f/afpa_submission_agriculture_to_2030.pdf?dl=1
  9. https://www.miragenews.com/afpa-board-appoints-new-ceo-to-lead-industry-778882/
  10. https://www.miragenews.com/afpa-board-appoints-new-ceo-to-lead-industry-778882/
  11. https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-pacific-labour-mobility-consultation-submission-afpa.pdf
  12. https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=WTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weeklytimesnow.com.au%2Fagribusiness%2Fhorticulture%2Fhorticulture-alliance-calls-for-harvest-work-visa%2Fnews-story%2F49d0562c093c6667216e2a2316fe8c07&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium
  13. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/federal-parliamentary-friends-of-fresh-produce-group-launched/262495.article
  14. https://www.goodfruitandvegetables.com.au/story/8824082/fresh-produce-gains-new-parliamentary-allies-in-canberra/
  15. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Friendship/Previous_Parliament_Friendship_Groups
  16. https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9658393/launch-of-parliamentary-friends-of-fresh-produce-to-champion-australia-s-fresh-produce-industry/
  17. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-12/biosecurity-levy-bill-scrapped-by-federal-government/104927356
  18. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/sustainable-biosecurity-funding
  19. https://www.freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/binned-biosecurity-levy-a-win/
  20. https://www.freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/apple-access-to-china-granted/
  21. https://www.9news.com.au/national/apples-grown-in-mainland-australia-can-now-be-exported-to-china/affb3f04-bb60-433d-ac91-a81cf443ba1d
  22. https://www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/news/australian-apples-headed-to-china
  23. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2025-04-29/mainland-australian-apples-export-china-trade-deal/105224684
  24. https://www.theland.com.au/story/5981381/big-guns-of-hort-form-powerful-new-alliance/
  25. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/launch-australian-fresh-produce-alliance/
  26. https://www.fruitnet.com/asiafruit/new-alliance-for-australian-produce/178194.article
  27. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/michaelsimonettaelectedaschair/
  28. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/michael-simonetta-elected-afpa-chair/180733.article
  29. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/lpgceonewafpachair/
  30. https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/horticulture/anthony-di-pietro-of-lamanna-premier-group-says-costs-are-eating-into-profit-margins/news-story/15219774ec6efde3e3f12f9132f11818
  31. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/johnsaid-elected-afpa-chair/
  32. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/john-said-elected-afpa-chair/187379.article
  33. https://freshproduce.org.au/__static/c9572b7f17774c2718d1eaaa9b6602f5/mr-third-generation-grower-scott-montague-elected-as-chair-of-the-australian-fresh-produce-alliance.pdf?dl=1
  34. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/scott-montague-elected-afpa-chair/248212.article
  35. https://www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/news/new-afpa-chair-outlines-2025-priorities
  36. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/gavin-scurr-elected-as-chair/
  37. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/richard-clayton-chair-afpa/
  38. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/veronica-papacosta-appointed-as-new-ceo-of-the-australian-fresh-produce-alliance/269346.article