While weather may have affected Australian custard apple volumes this year, growers say signs remain positive for years ahead. Custard Apples Australia says crops were 50 per cent bigger than last year, thanks largely to the maturing of trees that have recently been planted.
"Australian custard apple growers experienced an early and fruitful start to the season in March, thanks to a warm summer and a burst of rain, which produced a bumper crop of full-flavoured and creamy fruit," Patti Stacey said. "Sadly, the weather interrupted a thriving season, with ex-cyclone Debbie and east coast lows affecting the harvest in key growing regions. This has resulted in some cracked fruit and decreased fruit numbers. But over the last few years, large numbers of new trees have been planted and they’ll be in commercial production within 3-5 years, signalling an optimistic future for the industry."
Photo courtesy: Hort Innovation
With the bulk of the crop harvested, supply will start to decline, however Northern New South Wales growers are looking forward to another flush in August when the weather warms up.
"The local market remains healthy, with a great demand for luscious custard apples, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria," Ms Stacey said. "Both supply and demand are growing, but the recent weather events mean that there’s currently greater demand than supply."
Australia is the biggest producers of the Pinks Mammoth (or the Annona atemoya), which is a hybrid cross between the sugar apple and the cherimoya. The variety is largely favoured by the Asian market, due to its large size, and prices received this year were well up from past years, signifying a growing demand in Asian markets.
"Paul Thorne, grower of the KJ and Pinks Mammoth varieties, reported that export product made up almost 60 per cent of his overall harvest and 90 per cent of his Pinks Mammoth crop," Ms Stacey said. "A smaller amount of custard apples will be exported from June to September, with fruit supply and size decreasing as we get closer to the end of the season."
Photo courtesy: Hort Innovation
Taiwan is a huge producer of the sugar apple (or the Annona squamosa), which is generally smaller with more seeds, making custard apples the preferred fruit in Asia.
The custard apple has a number of health benefits, from its vitamin C potassium levels, to its low glycaemic index, as well as being a good source of dietary fibre. Consumers are advised to pick fruit that’s pale green and firm. Ms Stacey says it’s important to let them ripen and soften up in your fruit bowl at home, similar to avocados. Ripe custard apples will give slightly when squeezed.
"When ripe, custard apples are lovely and sweet," she said. "They work well as a naturally sweet dessert or breakfast cereal topper. I like to mix them with yogurt and smoothies for a delicious snack, and I even use them as a refreshing condiment for savoury dishes, like curry."
While she adds the name often confuses people, comparing them to other apples, when they are completely different fruits.
"There is some confusion around the name and similarities to the apple," Ms Stacey said. "I’ve even heard bizarre stories about people rolling hard, unripe custard apples in sugar to improve the taste as they thought custard apples should be eaten hard, like an apple."
Photo courtesy: Hort Innovation
But the biggest challenge for custard apple growers is Mother Nature.
"Climate change is bringing more extreme conditions and the hotter/colder weather is putting pressure on our crops," Ms Stacey said. "In light of these conditions, growers are adapting farming practices to help nurture a prime crop. For example, many Queensland growers are picking fruit by mid June to avoid fruit loss during the peak winter period."
For more information:Patti Stacey
Custard Apples Australia
Phone: +61 2 6629 5333