The harvest season from Australia is here again and Malaysians can now celebrate yet another season of Taste Australia’s juicy table grapes.
Australian grapes are available in more than 40 varieties and are renowned for their flavour, plumpness, and taste. Table grapes from Australia are categorised into seeded and seedless varieties, which are either red, black, or green in colour.
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The four most popular are Thompson Seedless, Menindee Seedless, Crimson Seedless and Red Globe. While these public varieties are still very popular in domestic and export markets, there is a growing number of innovative and unique varieties developed by commercial breeders such as Adora, Cotton Candy, Golden Globe, Sweet Sapphire, Alison and Midnight Beauty.
Embracing Grapeness with Taste Australia
Taste Australia trade efforts are being delivered through Australia’s grower-owned Research and Development Corporation, Hort Innovation, with AUSTRADE. Hort Innovation Head of Trade Brei Montgomery said Australian grapes have a remarkable history and legacy dating back to more than a century ago.
“With the Embracing Grapeness campaign, we wanted to highlight the wide range, freshness, and quality of our Australian table grapes. With warm, dry summers and deep, rich soils, Australia provides an excellent environment for growers to produce world-class table grapes. The warm sunny days and cool nights result in high-colour, sweeter and tastier grapes that are available from November through to May, with the peak export period extended from January to May.”
Production and Exports
These superfruits are produced in the premier grape growing region of Sunraysia (Mildura and Robinvale) in Victoria and throughout South-Eastern Queensland. Other growing regions include Carnarvon and the Swan Valley in Western Australia, the Riverina district in Central New South Wales, the South Australian Riverland, and the central Northern Territory.
“The Australian table grapes have the highest fresh fruit horticultural export. Currently, our grapes are exported to 42 countries around the world. Over the years, our exports to Malaysia have remained steady, with last year witnessing an increase of 28 per cent. This value continues to grow, hence we look forward to supplying more to the Malaysian market in the months to come,” said Melanie Harris, Trade and Investment Commissioner of Malaysia and Brunei.
How to select grapes
When selecting grapes, an important indication of freshness can be seen from the green stem and the presence of powdery white on the skin called bloom. Grapes which have bloomed are generally picked more recently and had very little contact with moisture, which means it was transported through an efficient cold chain. Another top tip when selecting green grapes is to choose a bunch with a golden tint, as this means they are sweeter in flavour.
How to enjoy grapes
At the recent launch of the Embracing Grapeness campaign, Chef Annette of TCH Foodworks spoke about pairing food with table grapes and said the flavour profiles of grapes go well with poultry and lamb.
“Grapes are so versatile and pair well with a large variety of speciality cheeses such as brie, blue cheese, ricotta as well as nuts. They can be the perfect addition to a sweet or savoury recipe for a refreshing twist. You can even cut them in half, freeze them, and use them instead of ice as a natural way to chill and sweeten drinks. Grapes also fit well for children’s meals as they are bite-sized, easy to pack and incredibly sweet.”
Healthier snacking
Malaysians love grapes and these eye-catching bright coloured superfoods are the perfect anytime snack; adding them to your daily diet will give you a much-needed antioxidant boost. Made from approximately 80 per cent water and containing high amounts of fibre, not only do they hydrate, cleanse, and detoxify active bodies but they help keep your gut healthy.
Not only are they sweet and crunchy but they sure do pack a punch too. Rich in phytonutrients, such as resveratrol, quercetin, anthocyanin and catechin, these jam-packed precious fruits are also a good source of vitamin C and vitamin B6 that helps prevent heart diseases by inhibiting the build-up of plaque in coronary arteries, as well as inhibiting the growth of some cancers.
But that’s not all! With a low glycaemic index (GI) and is both fat and cholesterol-free, grapes are also a great source of long-lasting energy and a perfect pick-me-up when you are peckish.
The benefits do not just end there. Grapes are also known for being great for the eyes. New research has revealed that eating grapes helps protect healthy retinal cells from damage and helps stabilise blood glucose levels after a meal, making them ideal for elderly parents or grandparents.
To get your hands on this much-loved Australian fruit in Malaysia, head down to participating supermarkets including AEON, Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer, Giant, TMC, Cold Storage and Mercato.
About Taste Australia
Taste Australia is the whole-of-horticulture Australian brand used by industry and Hort Innovation to help increase the profile, sales and consumption of premium horticulture products in key export markets. For more information, visit Taste Australia’s website, www.tasteaustralia.net.au, or social media pages at Facebook: facebook.com/TasteAustraliaMalaysia/ or Instagram: @tasteaustraliamy
Source: Taste Australia (Press release)
