Tassie Southern Bliss apple variety set to hit market as national harvest numbers plummet

Tasmanian apples could fetch the highest prices this season, with the apple season escaping bad weather plaguing interstate orchards.
Key points:The national harvest of apples set to fall as wet weather affects growing season Reduced apple supply could drive up Tasmanian apple prices New Tassie Southern Bliss apple variety in hopes of successful market entry Fruit Growers Tasmania Chairman, Scott Price, said.
"Let's hope…the market will reward growers for their efforts."
The floods and storms of hail in apple growing areas in the eastern states, the Goulburn Valley and around Shepparton in Victoria in late 2022 destroyed and damaged crops, affecting supplies.
As a result, Apple and Pear Australia (APAL) reports that gross national apple production is expected to decline by 7.9% from 2022, with total production of just 290,000 tonnes, with average national packaging similar to the last year.
Many growers have seen their apple crops wiped out. (Provided by Shane Sali)
< p class="_39n3n">Their March forecast also stated: "With a smaller crop of good quality fruit and continued consumer demand, we expect apple and pear prices to be higher than in 2022".
This could be a good year to launch a new apple.
Pick me, pick me!
The biggest Australia's organic apple producer Andrew Smith is hoping to grab attention in a crowded market with a new variety, Southern Bliss, which should be available in July.
"We are really excited today to make our first commercial harvest of the Southern Bliss apple. Southern Bliss is our signature variety,” Smith said.
He has planted 75,000 Southern Bliss trees in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania and plans plant 300,000.
< img alt="man on ladder picking apples" class="_8VgO3 eLhlC" sizes="100vw" src="https://live-production.wcms. abc-cdn.net.au/f334159c983e534cbb39b4f7e54e64fe?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1365&cropW=2048&xPos=0&yPos=85&width=862&height=575" loading="lazy" data-component="Image" data-lazy="true picker"/ fruit, Gregory James, harvests the first organic, Southern Bliss.(ABC Rural: Fiona Breen)
substantial amount of money. I would hate to think. I can't tell you right now because my dad might hear," he said.
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Agrotech Mar 31, 2023 0 52 Add to Reading List

Tassie Southern Bliss apple variety set to hit market as national harvest numbers plummet

Tasmanian apples could fetch the highest prices this season, with the apple season escaping bad weather plaguing interstate orchards.

Key points:The national harvest of apples set to fall as wet weather affects growing season Reduced apple supply could drive up Tasmanian apple prices New Tassie Southern Bliss apple variety in hopes of successful market entry Fruit Growers Tasmania Chairman, Scott Price, said.

"Let's hope…the market will reward growers for their efforts."

The floods and storms of hail in apple growing areas in the eastern states, the Goulburn Valley and around Shepparton in Victoria in late 2022 destroyed and damaged crops, affecting supplies.

As a result, Apple and Pear Australia (APAL) reports that gross national apple production is expected to decline by 7.9% from 2022, with total production of just 290,000 tonnes, with average national packaging similar to the last year.

A pair of apples on a tree. They were damaged by hail.

< p class="_39n3n">Their March forecast also stated: "With a smaller crop of good quality fruit and continued consumer demand, we expect apple and pear prices to be higher than in 2022".

This could be a good year to launch a new apple.

Pick me, pick me!

The biggest Australia's organic apple producer Andrew Smith is hoping to grab attention in a crowded market with a new variety, Southern Bliss, which should be available in July.

"We are really excited today to make our first commercial harvest of the Southern Bliss apple. Southern Bliss is our signature variety,” Smith said.

He has planted 75,000 Southern Bliss trees in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania and plans plant 300,000.

< img alt="man on ladder picking apples" class="_8VgO3 eLhlC" sizes="100vw" src="https://live-production.wcms. abc-cdn.net.au/f334159c983e534cbb39b4f7e54e64fe?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1365&cropW=2048&xPos=0&yPos=85&width=862&height=575" loading="lazy" data-component="Image" data-lazy="true picker"/ fruit, Gregory James, harvests the first organic, Southern Bliss.(ABC Rural: Fiona Breen) substantial amount of money. I would hate to think. I can't tell you right now because my dad might hear," he said.

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