South Australian shoppers may not realise it but the fruit and veg they buy at the grocer is often better travelled than they are.
Because of a lack of adequate post-harvest processing facilities, produce grown in SA has to first travel to Victoria or Queensland for treatment before it can be sold in its state of origin.
But a new biosecurity facility in Adelaide's north will enable SA-grown strawberries, cherries, stone fruit and citrus to be sold within hours of being picked, vastly improving freshness and reducing its carbon footprint.
Fourth-generation fruit grower Joseph Ceravolo says it will be a game-changer for the local industry.
"This hub is going to open up more export markets for us and that provides huge opportunity for the industry as a whole," he told reporters on Friday.
Hauling produce interstate costs SA producers almost $7 million in transport costs alone, as well as lost earnings due to wastage.
"It's a win for us, a win for our consumers, a win for our customers and a win for South Australian produce," Mr Ceravolo said.
SA growers have had their ability to export produce repeatedly impacted by fruit fly outbreaks, including a long-running Queensland fruit fly outbreak still affecting the Riverland region.
Currently, produce from the Riverland cannot be sent to other parts of SA, Tasmania or Western Australia where the fruit fly is not present unless it is treated.
Around $300 million of production is lost every year as a result of the outbreak.
Construction on the $50 million facility in Pooraka will begin in February 2024 and it is expected to be up and running in 2025.
The federal government will pitch in $9.8 million while the SA government will provide $4.2 million and the industry will cover the rest.
"The package will give us a huge boost towards our goal of completely eradicating our current outbreaks and retaining SA's fruit fly free status, as well as reducing the impacts of fruit fly nationally," federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said.
The funding will also go towards expanding sterile insect technique facilities, updating interstate trade protocols, electronic plant health certification and additional roadblocks to protect pest-free areas in the Riverland.
The facility would create 172 jobs and open up an additional $100 million in exports over five years when completed, Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said.
