A new export pathway for Riverland citrus: Q&A with Lineage

A NEW Adelaide-based facility is directly helping Riverland citrus growers more efficiently export produce overseas.

Global refrigerated warehousing company Lineage recently opened a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)-accredited cold storage facility, the first of its kind in South Australia. The facility is designed to unlock more efficient supply chains for Riverland growers exporting to overseas markets.

The Murray Pioneer recently sat down with Lineage Australia’s director of business development Christian Rossow to learn more.

Q: What’s changed for South Australian growers with this new facility?

A: For a long time, Riverland growers have been working around a structural gap in the local supply chain. If you were exporting citrus to markets that required cold treatment, you had no choice but to send fruit interstate before it could even begin its export journey overseas.

That often meant an eight-to-nine hour trip into Victoria, additional handling, and sometimes delays – all before the fruit ever reaches a port. What we consistently heard from growers in the Riverland was this was not only inconvenient, but also affected margins and, at times, product quality. The extra transit time can reduce shelf life and increases the risk of rejection in premium export markets.

What has changed is that now, South Australia has its own DAFF-accredited cold treatment capability at Edinburgh Parks. This means growers can treat, store and ship product within the state, creating a shorter and more direct pathway to market.

Q: What exactly is the accreditation and why does it matter?

A: The accreditation relates to the DAFF cold treatment process, which is required by many export markets to manage biosecurity risks such as fruit fly. It’s a tightly controlled and audited process, covering how fruit is handled, stored and monitored over time to meet importing country requirements. Without access to an accredited facility, exporters cannot reach several key markets.

For South Australian growers, the lack of in-state accreditation has shaped logistics decisions for years. Securing this certification locally removes that constraint and gives growers more flexibility in how and where they export.

Q: How does this change the economics for Riverland producers?

A: The most immediate impact is on transport time and efficiency. Instead of sending fruit interstate, growers can now move product from the Riverland to Edinburgh Parks in a matter of hours. That shorter journey reduces freight costs and simplifies their supply chains. It also means less excess handling and less time out of optimal conditions, which helps maintain fruit quality.

From a commercial perspective, even relatively small savings per carton can add up when margins are tight and competition in global markets is strong. Combined with improved shelf life and more reliable access to shipping windows, this change provides a more efficient export pathway.

Q: Beyond transport, what role does Lineage play in the export process?

A: The facility is one part of a broader process involving compliance, co-ordination, documentation and timing. Lineage works alongside exporters to manage those elements. While fruit is being packed and prepared, our teams are co-ordinating bookings, preparing export documentation and ensuring regulatory requirements are met. That integration of services helps reduce delays and uncertainty. It means exporters have access to temperature-controlled infrastructure as well as support that helps keep shipments moving and clearing borders as planned.

Q: How important was the partnership with Flinders Port Holdings?

A: It’s been a key part of making the model work. Lineage and Flinders Port Holdings have worked together closely, including direct engagement with growers across the Riverland, to understand current export pathways and where the pressure points are. That has helped shape a model that brings exports back through South Australia rather than defaulting to Victorian ports. The result is a more straightforward pathway from orchard to port, aligned with how growers operate day to day.

Q: What products and markets stand to benefit most?

A: Citrus is the immediate focus, given its scale in the Riverland and continued demand across Asia. We also expect to see table grapes and stone fruit move through the facility. In terms of markets, the accreditation supports exports into destinations with strict biosecurity requirements, including China, Japan, Korea, the US and New Zealand, along with Southeast Asia. These are markets where timing and quality are critical, so improvements in the supply chain can make a practical difference.

Q: How quickly will growers be able to use the new service?

A: The timing has aligned neatly with the citrus season, with the facility operational from May. That allows growers to factor the new pathway into planning for this year’s harvest. It also means decisions around picking, packing and shipping can now be made with a South Australia-based option in mind, rather than relying on interstate arrangements.

Q: What does this mean longer term for South Australia’s horticulture sector?

A: Previously, logistics constraints often meant decisions were made in stages. What this enables is a more integrated approach, where harvest timing, treatment and shipping can be aligned from the outset. Over time, that can support more consistent quality, better market outcomes and a stronger position in competitive export markets.

Q: What comes next?

A: The focus now is on working with growers and exporters as they begin using the facility and making sure the process runs as intended. There may be potential to build on this over time, based on the needs of our customers as they look to optimise their supply chains. Furthermore, it is an excellent example of supply chains evolving around producer needs. For South Australia, that creates a more practical foundation to support export growth over the long term.