Taste the summer with Australian stone fruits

The Australian Summer Fruits industry is committed to producing superior fruits under the strictest quality standards by using innovative eco-friendly farming practices.

This guarantees that all stone fruits, so called because of the large 'stone' or 'pit' found in the centre, such as peaches and nectarines, will remain at a temperature of 0–2 degrees Celsius throughout the cold storage process after harvest and for shipping. The fruit is then stored at 8–25 degrees Celsius by the time it arrives on Vietnamese supermarket shelves to maintain its freshness, crispness, and quality.

Trevor Ranford, CEO of Summerfruit Australia Limited, said, "Australia has been exporting peaches and nectarines to Vietnam since 2022. Some small trial shipments were made to ensure we could meet the required protocol and, most importantly, deliver a great experience when eating our stone fruit."

"I can attest to the additional levels growers and exporters go to in growing Australian stone fruit in a very safe and protected environment. They adhere to international best practices to produce outstanding nectarines and peaches, whilst preserving the environment to ensure they can continue to produce fruit for many years to come," Ranford added.

Peaches are recognised by their velvety or fuzzy skin, which is commonly yellow and red, or red and white. Peach flesh also ranges in colour from white to rich orange, depending on the variety, but is grouped into white or yellow varieties. Ripe peaches have a delicate aroma and may give slightly under gentle pressure.

Like nectarines, peaches can be categorised as either freestone (flesh falling away from the pit) or clingstone (the flesh clings to the pit).

Nectarines, or ‘nectar of the Gods’, are a variety of peach, with a smooth yellow, orange, or red skin and either white or yellow juicy flesh.

Yellow nectarines can taste both sweet and tart, while white nectarines are sweet while still being firm and crunchy. Both types will become more juicy as the fruit softens. Nectarine flesh is highly aromatic and very juicy when ripe. In general, when Australian summer fruit ripens, it will begin to soften and become more juicy with a very sweet natural aroma.

Thanks to its unique microclimates and rich soils, Australia’s warm climate, with hot, dry summers, promotes sweeter, juicier summer stone fruit. Also, its proximity to Asia enables lower freight costs as well as the preservation of the fresh flavour by the time it reaches local consumers.

Australian summer fruit is produced in approximately 26 regions across the country. Victoria and New South Wales are the largest producing regions, followed by South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Production has risen by approximately 25 per cent over the last decade and 400 growers now produce over 125,000 tonnes per annum, according to a 2022 industry report.

For the health-conscious consumers, Australian summer fruits are a perfect match. They are a natural, low Glycaemic Index (GI) superfood that is also low in calories. A Low GI helps restore energy and satisfy cravings, and keeps you fuller for longer.

Australian summer fruits also provide potential health benefits, including improved digestion, a healthy heart, a strong immune system and improved allergy symptoms. They can be a source of potassium, antioxidants, fibre, various minerals, and vitamins A, C, and E. Consumption of summer fruits also supports iron absorption, weight loss, and healthy skin.

Australian peaches and nectarines are currently available in supermarkets and fruit stores throughout Vietnam, such as MM Mega Market, AEON, Big C, GO!, Tops Market, WinMart, KingFood Mart, Thuy Anh Fruits, F5 Fruit Shop, Luon Tuoi Sach, An Nam, AEON, and Co.op Mart.

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