Australian Horticultural Exporters Association   - AHEA.

The Australian Horticultural Exporters' Association Inc. (AHEA), represents approximately 80% of horticultural exports and is the National Peak Industry Body for Exporters, committed to the development of the export of Australian Horticultural products, namely fresh fruit and vegetables, edible nuts, cut flowers, native flowers, foliage and nursery produce.

The AHEA is also a Designated Secondary Shipper Body negotiating shipping freight rates on behalf of members and the Horticultural Export Industry.

The AHEA remains an autonomous Association of Organisations, principally involved in Australian horticultural exports, who are interested in sustaining and furthering their export businesses and recognise the benefits of the collective strength of a Peak Industry Body, which serves to protect member interests through representing their views to the Government and the rest of Industry

Membership has been expanded to cover all facets of the Horticulture Industry, including persons indirectly involved in, or interested in, the development of Australian Horticultural Exports.

AHEA member exporters are professional exporters who make their livelihood out of exporting all year round, and take very seriously their obligations to provide regular and reliable quality produce to their customers, whom they have dealt with often for many years.

AHEA Vision...

"Australian Horticultural Exports thriving in a free market environment driven by consumer orientated strategies by innovative, prosperous and uniquely Australian businesses."

  AHEA    Mission...

To proactively provide leadership in representing and supporting Australian horticulture exports and influencing decisions affecting the Industry.

However, many issues continue to inhibit the development of a deregulated and free trading environment for Australian horticultural exports, and it is AHEA's policy to continue to focus upon issues which create an impost to free trade including:

• Export license restrictions
• Non Tariff and non quarantine issues including chemical residue violations
• Restricted market access by importing countries.
• Over-regulated market access by the Australian Government
• Export costs and charges.

If you are looking to influence decisions made by governments or authorities that can affect your industry, doing this through your association will give you an advantage.

The AHEA website www.ahea.com.au provides a lot of information and links - take a look at the Industry Info section, which includes details on market access, export information, stats and other horticultural information and sources.