The largest shipment of Tasmanian apples is on its way to China, with 40 tonnes of Tasmanian-grown bright red Rubigold apples heading to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, and a further 120 tonnes pre-sold to the People's Republic.
Huon-based family owned apple grower BW Griggs & Sons launched its proprietary apple variety in Shanghai in late April, with owner Dane Griggs joined by the Australian consular-general to Shanghai Brent Moore and Apple and Pear Australia representatives at the Marriot Hotel.
“At the moment, we’ve shipped about 40 tonnes, and have pre-sold 120 tonnes of Rubigold between Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai,” Griggs told Fruitnet after returning from the launch in China. “It’s the largest shipment of Australian apples to go to China since the Tasmanian state was granted fruit-fly free status and apples were allowed to be shipped to China.”
Another container was sold to Hong Kong on airfreight, with sales picking up after trial shipments last year, Griggs said.
With a green label with the Rubigold name and a map of Tasmania, selling its origin is very much a part of the promotions for the family run business.
“The origin is just as much as selling point as the variety in China, and food safety if such an issue that having that Tasmania origin is a bit part of the promotions,” Griggs said. “With Rubigold, we have the exclusive plant breeding rights and trademark for the name, and as part of the promotions will be pushing that this Tasmania apple is rare, exclusively grown in Tasmania – a pure and clean environment.”
Before shipping to Hong Kong and China, Griggs also sent shipments to Vietnam before the market was closed off to all Australian fruit last year. With the apples receiving a warm reception in Vietnam, Griggs says if the market opens up again they’ll be shipping Rubigold back out there.
The full article on the launch of Rubigold apples will be published in the May issue of Asiafruit Magazine.
