Spice manufacturer Spur Tree will later this week send off its largest shipment of seasoning to Australia.

In fact, the 40-foot container, which is currently being packed for export to the country that is known for its unique animal species like the kangaroo and duck-billed platypus, will be the largest shipment from Jamaica.

Statistics from Trading Economics shows that up to 2016, Jamaica’s export to Australia totalled US$1.21 million while imports from the country totalled US$13.61 million in 2017.

Spur Tree is supplying Australia with roughly 458 cases of its hot pepper, jerk and barbeque sauces. The rest of the container is filled with products from J Wray and Nephew, Juliana, Sunrite, Island Spices, among other local processors.

“About three or four years ago, we were approached by an e-commerce Australian company called Jamaican Products – Australia and since then Spur Tree has been sending small shipments to Australia,” director of Spur Tree Dennis Dawkins told the Jamaica Observer.

“But a few days ago we got a call that the company was going into potentially big business with a new commercial customer. It involves the company putting together a container-load of not just Spur Tree products, but products from other local food manufacturers,” he continued.

The e-commerce platform, Jamaican Products Australia is owned and operated by Hope Kidd, a Jamaican who has been living in Australia. The company, which was started in 2005, aims to bring the flavours of Jamaica and the Caribbean to Australia.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-observer/spur-tree-increases-australia-exports_151373