A new variety of Tasmanian apple has made its way to Taiwan, with two containers of Tiger Fuji apples arriving in Taipei in recent weeks.
The apples have been grown in Tasmania for around 10 years and are part of a collaboration between growers Scott Bros, Pinnacle Fine Foods and fruit exporter Hansen Orchards.
Fruit Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish said the apple industry is “very challenging at the moment”, but Tasmanian growers continue to find new markets.
“As usual Tasmanian fruit growers draw on their ingenuity and grit to keep identifying new commercial pathways,” he said.
“This is a tremendous example of grower collaboration and hats off to these growers who keep finding a way.”
The Tiger Fuji variety is known for its flavour, size and colour and grows well in Tasmania’s cool temperate climate.
This climate also means Tasmanian apples store particularly well, making them ideal for export.
The first container of apples was exported from Scott Bros in the Huon Valley in July and the second from Pinnacle Fine Foods in the Tamar Valley.
To launch the apples in Taiwan, Hansen Orchards has organised in-store tastings, displays and social media promotions.
Andrew Scott from Scott Bros visited Taipei retail stores to coincide with the arrival of the second shipment and said there was “significant interest” in the fruit.
“I was pleased how well our apples compared with others I saw. Ours looked and tasted fresh and crisp to the bite,” he said.
“I think the only barrier to us having success in the Taiwan market is the import tariff of 20% on Australian apples. It’s a huge cost disadvantage and one that many of our competitors, such as New Zealand, don’t face.”
Taiwan imports around 135,000 tonnes of apples each year, mostly from the United States, New Zealand, Chile and Japan.
Tasmania has export access to Taiwan due to its pest free area status, which means local growers are not required to undertake phytosanitary treatments.
