Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has launched the start of the 2019 Bravo® apple season, with the dark burgundy apples now available from retail outlets.
This premium fruit is produced from the variety ANABP 01 and has to meet strict quality specifications to be marketed as a Bravo® apple.
This is the fourth harvest of the variety, which was developed in Western Australia over two decades by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
A total of 26 WA apple orchards from the Perth Hills, Manjimup and Donnybrook are expected to supply about 1,000 tonnes of Bravo® apples to the local, interstate and export markets over the next few months, while the variety has been widely adopted in the south-eastern States.
Efforts are being made by the licensed marketers of the variety to cultivate export markets, particularly in nearby South East Asia and the Middle East, where premium quality fruit is highly prized when celebrating festive events.
The department continues to work towards the development of new varieties suitable for growing in WA conditions, through the national apple breeding program.
Fruit lovers are encouraged to share their enjoyment of consuming Bravo® apples and help promote the new variety via social media, using the hashtag #ilovebravoapples.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Bravo® apples are truly some of WA’s finest produce, with their jewelled skin and ultra-crisp, juicy flesh.
“Bravo® apples are a WA success story, developed from the same Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development breeding program behind Cripps Pink and Cripps Red, marketed as Pink Lady® and Sundowner™.
“The apple is being applauded around Australia and internationally since its first harvest just three years ago, including endorsement from influential food bloggers and chefs.
“It’s fantastic to see marketers pursuing opportunities to take this beautiful fruit to the world and welcome the interest in supplying customers with custom made fruit gift boxes via online retailers.
“I encourage everyone to get your teeth into some Bravo® apples and support our farmers who do such a great job of producing safe, high-quality fruit.”
