Tasmanian apples could fetch top prices this season, with its apple season escaping the bad weather that plagued interstate orchards. Fruit Growers Tasmania president Scott Price: "I think it'll be the largest crop we've had for a while, the largest quality crop. Hopefully … the market will reward the growers for their effort."
Floods and hailstorms in apple growing areas across the eastern states, the Goulburn Valley and around Shepparton in Victoria in late 2022 destroyed and damaged crops, affecting supplies. As a result, Apple and Pear Australia (APAL) says national gross apple production is expected to be down 7.9 per cent from 2022 with a total production of just 290,000 tons, with an average national packout similar to last year.
Australia's biggest organic apple grower, Andrew Smith, is hoping to attract attention in a crowded market with a new variety, Southern Bliss, due on the shelves in July. "We're really excited today to be doing our first commercial harvest of the Southern Bliss apple. Southern Bliss is our trademark variety," Smith said.
Source: abc.net.au