A GENETIC mutation on a Tasmanian apple tree has resulted in a national award for one of the state’s small orchardists.
Dane Griggs won this year’s Australian Apple and Pear Innovative Marketing Award for his shipments of Rubigold, to China.
The award recognised his work in developing, branding, marketing and exporting Rubigold apples to China, this year.
“The first three containers have arrived and I have been paid for those,” Mr Griggs said.
“Now Beijing has backed up for a second one; they have seen the fruit, liked it, and want some more.”
Another container was now on the sea, on its way to China.
Dane and his brother Brett Griggs developed the variety of Rubigold apples, from a mutation of an existing tree on their Huonville property, in the south of the state.
He has secured exclusive breeding and trademark rights to the apple and name. Working with an exporter, he shipped 120 tonnes of pre-sold Rubigold apples to Guangzhau, Beijing and Shanghai this year.
An APAL spokesman said Mr Griggs had taken advantage of Tasmania’s access to China; recognised and exploited the state’s ‘clean and green’ reputation; built a unique apple brand and managed its supply and committed to exports over the long-term.
“We’re still only a family business and we don’t have dreams of becoming one of the big players,” Mr Griggs said.
“We’ve probably got about 50 hectares of orchard growing the mainstream varieties of Gala, Pink Lady™, Fuji, a few Golden Delicious, and the Rubigolds.”