First mainland Australian apple exports to China
Bravo apples are known for their burgundy skin. Image: Kyle/stock. adobe. comMainland Australian apples have broken into the Chinese market, unlocking a significant market opportunityAn 80-tonne shipment of. . .
Bravo apples are known for their burgundy skin. Image: Kyle/stock. adobe. comMainland Australian apples have broken into the Chinese market, unlocking a significant market opportunityAn 80-tonne shipment of Western Australian-developed Bravo apples – known globally as Soluna – has arrived in China, unlocking a market expected to be worth more than $10 million in the next two years. Bravo apples – a cross between Royal Gala and the WA Cripps Red variety – were developed by the Australian National Apple Breeding Program, based at the state’s Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute. The Western Australian government says the sweet eating apple is known for its burgundy skin and highly regarded for its nutritional benefits. Additionally, its flesh is slow to brown, making it well placed to capture the attention of Chinese consumers. “The Bravo apple is a beloved variety here in Western Australia – it’s a WA success story and we’re incredibly proud that it was developed by local researchers and growers,” WA agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis says. “We’re also immensely proud of our apple breeding program and its global reputation for producing nutritious, delicious fruit for consumers to enjoy, backed by WA growers’ sophisticated production systems. ”More than 50,000 seedlings are being evaluated at the Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute, where Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) scientists are developing the next generation of unique and tasty apple varieties suited to WA conditions. High-tech cold storage technology was recently installed at the Manjimup facility to support research that improves fruit shelf life and handling to deliver quality fresh products for consumers, while reducing costs and creating market opportunities. National production of Bravo branded apples is continuing to build, destined for domestic markets, as well as export under the Soluna brand, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.