Attention: apple industry
BY NARDIA STACY
EXECUTIVE MANAGER,
POMEWEST
EXECUTIVE MANAGER,
POMEWEST
Are you an apple producer, wholesaler, store manager, produce buyer or fresh fruit manager? Know that the 2023 WA Quality Inspections have commenced for Gala, Granny Smith and Pink Lady varieties.
POMEWEST IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE APPLE INDUSTRY PROVIDES QUALITY APPLES TO MARKET. POMEWEST IS A POME GROWER SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE COMMISSION THAT SERVES THE WA POME GROWERS.
Industry-led testing has begun in the apple industry to ensure that three commodity apple lines – Gala, Granny Smith and Pink Lady® – have met industry-endorsed minimum maturity standards when presented for sale (see standard chart below). Inspections are funded by the Agricultural Produce Commission Fee for Service collection for pome fruit. Testing promotes confidence that these varieties meet consumer taste satisfaction and will encourage repeat sales.
The above standards have been endorsed by the WA pome industry as part of industry self-regulation practice and follows the parameters of existing quality programs already running nationally for the table grape and citrus industries.
We invite your participation in the program. It is our intention to report to you test results and work with you to address any fails. Fruit buyer? We encourage you to establish with your suppliers that fruit sold to you has passed these standards.
The end goal is to encourage repeat purchases with great eating experiences for our customers to promote increased consumption, product demand, sales and returns for the entire supply chain.