Exports of WA’s home-grown Bravo apple on track to quadruple as demand for the ‘jewel-coloured fruit’ soars

Demand for WA’s home-grown Bravo apple variety is booming, with exports of the “jewel-coloured” fruit set to more than quadruple this year. Exports of the rich burgundy coloured-fruit are pegged to increase 450 per cent on the back of strong export growth that kickstarted when the first container shipment set sail in for Singapore in 2017. A 40-foot refrigerated container was the most recent shipment of Bravo apples to depart Fremantle Port on Thursday, with hundreds of trays of apples grown in Manjimup, Donnybrook and the Perth Hills destined for Dubai. WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the Bravo variety — which she described as “the perfect apple” — continued to grow in popularity in premium markets including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. “During the past seven years, we have managed to double the number of exports, but this year the demand has been so strong that we are expecting in excess of 450 per cent growth,” she said. “We are seeing huge demand increasing in premium markets for this remarkable apple. “The Bravo apple has been received so well and symbolises a great future for WA agriculture in premium markets. “It is almost the perfect apple — crisp, with the right combination of sweet and tart, and the most beautiful jewel-like colour.” Apples have been exported from Fremantle to a range of international destinations for more than 85 years. The Bravo apple’s exporting success is an impressive achievement against a backdrop of COVID-19 supply chain issues that have plagued agribusinesses exporting fresh produce in shipping containers across the globe. The unique variety was developed at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Stoneville and Manjimup research stations through the Australian National Apple Breeding program, which is based in WA. With its seventh harvest under way this year, the Bravo apple — produced from the variety known as ANABP 01 — is now grown by 26 WA producers in Manjimup, Donnybrook and the Perth Hills. Plantings are also increasing in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland, with more than 90 farmers now growing Bravo apples nationwide. DPIRD horticulture director Rohan Prince said more than 6000 tonnes of Bravo apples were expected to be harvested across Australia this season, up 30 per cent on last year, and more than 4000 of those produced in WA. A total 2400 tonnes are expected to be harvested this season, up about 46 per cent on 2021. “The apples have an amazing distinct colour, and an amazing texture and taste,” Mr Prince said. “It has sweet yet creamy flesh, it looks great, but one of the most fabulous traits is it is slow to brown which means it can go on both tables and lunch boxes… it is just a unique apple.” Mr Prince said the FruitWest’s licenced marketer WA Farm Direct had great success marketing the apple internationally because it was so unique, with the first shipment to Singapore closely followed the Middle East. “It was about introducing them (new markets) to the apple, but there is no other apple in the market with such distinct characteristics… having them see it is one thing, having them taste it is another,” he said. “WA Farm Direct staff have just got back from Thailand and they had great excitement over there… they love the colour, they love the flavour.” The Bravo was the latest apple to be released from the Cripps Pink and Cripps Red breeding line, developed by a team including the late John Cripps AO, a celebrated researcher who died earlier this year. It takes about 20 years to fine-tune varieties, from crossing lines, to new lines, to testing commercial root stock, with the National Apple Breeding Program in operation since the late 1960s. Manjimup is home to the program, where more than 50,000 seedlings are in the ground from which new unique and tasty varieties will be developed to suit local growing conditions, enabling growers and industry to prosper. “Bravo has continued to build on the legacy of respected apple breeder, the late John Cripps, with a high-performance variety that not only looks appealing and tastes great, but also yields well under Australian conditions,” Ms MacTiernan said. The apples can be found in WA stores bearing the blue Bravo sticker — supported by the State’s Buy West Eat Best marketing initiative — which includes a QR code, through which consumers can access information on the fruit and orchard it came from.