His comments came as the department of agriculture said the Vietnamese Government was considering halting trade due to concerns over Australia’s fruit fly management systems.

President of the NSW Cherry Grower’s association and local orchardist Tom Eastlake said the issue could not be downplayed.

“We really need the government to get information on it, this has some very far reaching consequences,” he said.

Growers had been optimistic negotiations with protocol markets including China and Thailand would lift air freight bans in the near future. 

But now they face the prospect of losing an existing trade partner.

“We haven’t seen a new market open for us because of protocol restrictions... we’ve been looking at existing markets saying we need to increase these markets,” Mr Eastlake said.

“To not have access to an existing market now, that’s a huge blow.”

He said any option which did not allow for the fruit to be transported to Vietnam within 48 hours would not allow growers to be competitive with cheaper markets such as Chile. 

“What we need from government is they need to take on board the severity of the issue, keeping in mind what is commercially viable for growers,” Mr Eastlake said.

Last year, 100 tonnes of cherries were exported to Vietnam from Australia.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said Australia was working closely with the Vietnamese government to provide additional information about fruit fly management and control in Australia.

“We value our trade relationship with Vietnam very highly and are committed to providing Vietnam with products that meet their importing country requirements,” the spokesperson said in a statement to The Young WItness. 

“We are committed to ensuring Australian producers have access under cost effective means and will continue to talk with our valued trading partner about ways we can achieve this.”

NSW Primary Industries minister Katrina Hodgkinson met with local growers Friday morning.

“The fruit fly issue is one we’ve been trying to nail for some time,” she said.

She said she discussed potential solutions with growers, including the introduction of a sterile fruit fly program