Australia’s burgeoning pomegranate industry has benefited from a ‘kind’ year for growers who finished the local harvest in April. “Last year the weather was as expected, luckily it was kind to our fruit,” says PomLife’s Joshua Reuveni. PomLife grows approximately 80,000 trees in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley.
The total volume for the Australian pomegranate industry was approximately 5,000 tonnes, and sold between $2.50 and $4.00 per kilo. The trees had been maturing for 4-6 years since PomLife began its operations and planted them in 2008. It takes up to six years for the fruit trees to reach full maturity, according to Mr Reuveni.
During the spring and summer months when it isn’t available locally fresh pomegranages are being imported from the US to meet growing consumer demand.
Mr Reuveni and his team are focused on producing premium quality fruit for the domestic market during the season it’s available – March through to August, and promote the health benefits of pomegranages through value added products including packaged arils (seeds), juice and sparkling wine containing the health benefits pomegranates are becoming well known for.
PomLife is one of only a few Australian growers of fresh pomegranate in Australia, and it is through determination that the business continues to thrive, according to Mr Reuveni. “Pomegranates are not like your average fruit and the ever-changing weather, including rain at the end of the season, adds complexity to the business.”
The pomegranate fruit is in demand from consumers in Australia because of its high antioxidant content, and in particular anthocyanins and polyphenols.
For more information
Joshua Reuveni
PomLife
Phone: +61(1)300970769
E-mail: info@pomlife.com.au
Website: www.pomlife.com.au