Sydney Morning Herald: “Tasmanian” cherries and “Barossa” wine that is not from Australia are competing with our exporters for space in stores overseas. This is the new world of counterfeiting and it’s our exporters and consumers who are in the firing line.

The growing market for high-end Australian agricultural produce – renowned for being safe, clean and green – has led to the wave of fake foods.

It is claimed some counterfeiters are taking dangerous steps, including dyeing second-grade oranges with inedible paint to pass them off as high-quality Australian brands.

Tasmanian cherry grower Reid Fruits calls its produce the “Louis Vuitton of cherries”, in a nod to counterfeiters traditionally knocking off high-end fashion such as bags and watches. The company’s marketing and business development manager, Lucy Gregg, said Reid was looking at incorporating better technology on its packaging and authentication methods. “It’s detrimental not only to the quality of the brand but also food safety. That’s one of the issues we have is that potentially the product that they put in the box is not safe.”

Click here to read the full article from the Sydney Morning Herald.