The incoming chairman of Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) John Lawrenson has bought an air of optimism to the industry body regarding the country's ability to compete with imported fruit.
Earlier in the year China became the first country in decades send apples to Australia, while access for New Zealand apples is expected to be granted in the coming months.
Previously the message coming from APAL had been one of doom and gloom for the industry.
Speaking to the ABC on his first day in the job, Mr Lawrenson said the added competition on the domestic market could benefit the industry.
“We shouldn’t fear imports. There’s a lot of uncertainty around imports, nobody’s quite sure what impact it will have on the industry and it probably will have a negative impact for a while,” he told the media organisation.“But if our growers are good, producing what consumers want, and there’s a high level of satisfaction amongst consumers, they’ll win out at the end of the day.”
