Bravo branded apples head to Singapore

Western Australia has celebrated the first export shipment of WA-bred Bravo™ branded apples to Singapore.

Apple breeder Steele Jacob from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (lt) and WA Minister for Agriculture and Food Alannah MacTiernan (rt) farewell a shipment of Bravo™ apples on its way to Singapore (Photo: Peter Maloney, WA DPIRD).

The apples, grown and packed in the Manjimup region, are destined for food markets and leading supermarkets in Singapore.

This trial consignment is part of work by the WA apple industry, with funding support from the State Government, to take Bravo apples to the world, helping to grow the sector and create new jobs in the regions.

Fruit West Co-operative Ltd is managing the commercialisation of the variety in Australia and has been granted $440,000 through the Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund to support export development.

The apple, distinguishable for its rich burgundy colour, is from the variety ANABP 01 which was bred at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development‘s research facilities in Manjimup.

In its second year of commercial sales, the variety has had strong uptake from the apple industry, with more than 60 growers across Australia having planted the variety in their orchards.

“Bravo is a fantastic example of premium produce bred here in WA by our own agricultural researchers and now being shared with the world,” said WA Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“This apple will capture the attention of consumers worldwide and follow in the footsteps of other successful locally bred apples, including Pink Lady™.”

This trial shipment will benefit ANABP 01 growers across Australia with work around promotion and consumer profiling to open the doors to export into Asian markets.

Fruit West Cooperative Limited and marketers WA Farm Direct have recently returned from promoting the Bravo™ branded apples at Asia’s leading trade show, Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong, where the apple was very well received.

Source: mediastatements.wa.gov.au