A kava producer is preparing its export volumes in the lead up to the resumption of kava trade with Australia.

Lami Kava managing director, Donny Yee said the company had yet to seal any deal with the Australian market.

“We welcome moves by Australia, one of our closest and longest-standing development partners, to accept commercial kava imports,” Mr Yee said.

He made the comment following a factory visit by Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, at Veisari, Lami yesterday.

Mr Seselja officially launched the factory’s new wash bay, which cuts the work time from three days to three hours.

The washbay enables Lami Kava to produce twice its previous output, and subsequently signed up more farmers, Mr Yee said.

Mr Yee said 50 per cent of Fiji’s kava market remained untapped, because farmers had limited market access.

“The ease of import restrictions should now see a price reduction in Australia,” he said.

“You simply need to look at the emergence of trendy kava bars across to the US to see that Australians could reap similar benefits as commercial kava imports become available from next month.”

Lami Kava has close to 40 years industry experience in Fiji, and will soon introduce green kava juice.

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