A Victorian table grape grower is launching a new grape juice in Japan this week that uses different-grade grapes to help minimize waste across his production season.
Budou Farms co-owner Enrique Rossi says the juice called 'RE:BUDO' also includes loose berries, as this fruit is always edible and has perfect flavour. It is made in Japan from 100 per cent Australian grapes - and there will be some minor volume that can be exported from Japan to other countries.
"Its name comes from RE; as in a recycle, reuse, reinvent. Meanwhile, the BUDO means grapes and its spelling is different than our original (company) name as some countries try to pronounce the "U" when is phonetically almost mute," Mr Rossi said.
Mr Rossi also explained that it is a win-win as there, as there are many health benefits to the product while getting the most out of the crop.
"We have come up with the solution for the supply chain to use 100 per cent of what we produce," he said. "The grapes used for this juice had 21-24 Brix, so this juice is naturally sweet and we have tested to amount of polyphenols which is an important compound that grapes have and that has excellent benefits to health. This includes reducing agents, and together with other dietary reducing agents, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids, referred to as antioxidants, protect the body's tissues against oxidative stress and associated pathologies such as cancers, coronary heart disease and inflammation."
He says the grape juice has been tested in random controlled trials, which suggested that the consumption of 100 per cent fruit juice is not associated with an increased risk of diabetes.
"However, the study also notes that more detailed research is needed to understand the effect of 100 per cent fruit juice on the regulation and maintenance of blood glucose levels. With this in mind Budou Farms known as 'So Sweet' gives an alternative for people that is conscious of how much sugar and what kind can be consumed in their diet."
Overall, production-wise, Mr Rossi also explained that his table grape harvest was delayed for almost four weeks and that was an inconvenience, as it concentrates the sales in Japan in a short window.
"Our season has been overall good as the weather was in our favour during harvest time, no rain and mild temperatures, that allowed us to have very sweet, crunchy grapes and good colour," Mr Rossi said. "However, the yield was lower than a normal year. Borders opened and there are people available and seems by mid-year will be back to normal in that point of view."
This year Budou Farms is also continuing to practice what it preaches, according to Mr Rossi, with ways to innovate and be sustainable. This year for harvest, the business is using a new cardboard to replace Styrofoam, and he notes that so far arrivals have been very well received.
"The box allows faster cooling of fruit and it uses less materials than the one used as standard Industry, so it does have many attributes apart of the material itself that shows our compromise with less waste and our on-farm way to take care of the land," he said. "It is expected Budou Farms will expand to other product lines that are in development, as well with some new variety plantings with the aim to diversify markets within Asia."
For more information
Enrique Rossi
Budou Farms
budoufarms@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/budoufarms