Western Australia’s red-flesh grapefruit industry is growing rapidly, with exports this season nearly doubling as new markets are secured for the fruit.

Peter Johnson, the state’s department of agriculture and food tropical fruits specialist, said through the work of the department and commercial operator, Rewards Group Limited, exports had grown in new and existing markets including the EU, Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan this season.

Johnson said: “The department and the Rewards Group has also worked with Horticulture Australia Limited to develop new export supply chain protocols to ensure that fruit can be delivered in excellent condition, while meeting quarantine requirements of overseas markets.

“Market access was gained for Taiwan and China in June, following acceptance of a cold disinfestation protocol for Mediterranean and Queensland fruit flies.”

Johnson said future export opportunities for red-flesh grapefruit looked very promising, with a distinct market window for Kununurra-grown fruit between the end of the US season in December-January and the opening of the South African season in mid-May.

He added that, due to ideal growing conditions, Western Australian quality was second to none, but once South African fruit arrives on world markets then Western Australian fruit would find it difficult to compete.

Rewards Group Limited managing director Dr Andrew Radomiljac said its Kununurra orchards yielded about 1,500 tonnes this year.

He said: “Six hundred tonnes were sold overseas, doubling the level of Australian exports from 2008 and making them the largest grower in the country.

“The rest of the crop has sold locally, mainly through supermarkets. Our crop should approach 10,000t by 2015 as trees mature, but it is still small compared with world markets.”

Cultivation of red-flesh grapefruit has been greatly aided by trials a decade ago on the Frank Wise Research Station at Kununurra.

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