Juicy Products Boost Value for WA’s Bravo Apple
Fruit lovers will have their pick of new ways to enjoy Western Australia’s Bravo apples, with rosy, pink apple juice now available and fresh, long-life apple slices soon to be in store.
The new products are the result of scientific research backed by the Cook Labor Government to extend the shelf life of the popular, deep burgundy, WA-bred apple.
The products, marketed under the trademark Soluna, will be sold in independent supermarkets across WA.
The Soluna Apple Juice was cold-pressed locally by experienced beverage processor Pressed Earth.
High-pressure processing was then used to extend the life of the juice to 90 days at the Government’s $12.2 million state-of-the-art Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre in the Food Innovation Precinct WA.
The trials of the long-life apple slices, which stay fresh for up to 21 days, are in the final stages at the SIFT Centre and are expected to be in store by the end of the year.
The new offerings stem from a pilot project between the Fruit West Co-operative, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Murdoch University, German machinery manufacturer Bruker BioSpin, and the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre.
The juice and long-life slices form part of a broader initiative that includes verifying the health benefits of Bravo apples.
This research will provide a competitive market advantage and diversify options for value-added apple products, backed by scientific evidence and proven product performance.
Fruit West is also exploring export opportunities for the Soluna juice and slices in Asia and the Middle East.
The initiative forms part of Fruit West’s strategy to capture new domestic and international markets for value-added apple products, boosting orchard sustainability and profitability.
The variety is now WA’s biggest apple export, contributing to Australian supplies set to exceed last year’s sales of more than 740 tonnes sold to Asia and the Middle East.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
“I am excited this new Soluna Apple Juice has hit shelves at green grocers throughout WA and will soon be joined in market by the long-life apple slices.
“These products are the result of an innovative research project, backed by the Cook Labor Government, and developed at the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre, a state-of-art facility we are proud is supporting our local food and beverage manufacturing sector.
“Value-added products create an additional avenue for our growers and improve the long-term value of the fruit, helping the industry to grow and diversify.
“Our government continues to pursue opportunities that capture competitive market advantages for WA produce and products through research and development.”
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/Juicy-new-products-add-value-for-WA