Goldrush®, a new pear variety grown only in the Western Australia, is now available in Sainsbury's stores. OrchardWorld, supplier, is marketing the fruit in the UK. The Goldrush® pear is tree-ripened, harvested straight into bins, and this year 60 tonnes have been sent to the UK. Consultant to the development of Goldrush® Pear International Ally MacKay said: "There are plans to more than double export production volumes as the trees age. For 2005, we plan to send 200-250t to the UK and this will increase to 400-500t for 2006. The growing programme is tightly managed down to the tree planting, but we need to know the response from the market.

We are spring boarding off the past success of Pink Lady® apples in the UK. We are looking for guaranteed supply-take up from UK retailers to establish long-term relationships." Goldrush® pears are represented by a single agent in France overseeing production trials in Spain, and there are plans to grow the pears in the US.

Improved harvesting and packing techniques have reduced fruit bruising and wastage, and the pears are shipped in wooden bins to OrchardWorld for distribution, who in turn pack the pears to order. Sales manager Ian Hall said: "This is a premium product which will be in supply for four weeks this year."

The fruit is grown is harvested in late March to early April. "Summer in the growing region lasts for eight months; daytime temperatures can reach 50°C and drop at night by as much as 20°C. We are looking for a European grower, targeting southern Spain as it has a climate that mirrors the Western Australian growing conditions."

MacKay said: "This is a perfect summer pear and is a complementary variety for the UK season selling here from late July to early September. The fruit's vitamin C and natural fibre levels are 33 per cent higher than Packham pears. Goldrush® has a golden skin and crunchy apple texture - it is best eaten chilled like an apple."

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