- Health benefit verification to give Bravo apples competitive market advantage
- Value-add product development to create new apple snacks and juices
- Cook Government supporting innovative research throughout the food supply chain
The Cook Government is backing research to create fresh opportunities in the wellness and value-add markets for Western Australian Bravo apples - boosting export potential and orchard sustainability.
The initiative will verify the health benefits of Bravo apples, while also developing new products made from the popular burgundy fruit, like snacks and juices.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has joined Fruit West Co-operative, Murdoch University, German machinery manufacturer Bruker BioSpin, and the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to deliver the project.
The work will help to provide a competitive market advantage and diversify options for value-add apple products, backed by scientific evidence and proven product performance.
Research includes analysing the Bravo apple alongside a nutrition study to better understand the fruit's ability to lower the risk of heart disease.
Work on new products is already underway at the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre, a $12.2 million state-of-the-art food manufacturing facility delivered by the Cook Government.
The centre is fitted out with the latest in food and beverage manufacturing equipment, including a high-pressure processing unit - which is one of only two in the State.
This unit will be used in the pilot study to examine the use of high-pressure processing to improve the shelf life of Bravo value-added products, like delicious juices that have a distinctive rosy, pink colour.
These projects will support ongoing market strategies to forge new domestic and international trade avenues for value-added apple products - supporting long-term industry growth and profitability.
More than 7,400 tonnes of the variety were harvested in 2024, destined for domestic markets as Bravo apples and international exports, where it is branded as Soluna, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
The SIFT Centre is located within the Food Innovation Precinct WA at the Peel Business Park.
The precinct was backed by a $45 million Cook Government investment and supports primary producers, as well as food and beverage enterprises, to test, develop and produce new and enhanced value-add products, using advanced manufacturing technologies and processes.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"This research will deliver practical solutions to create value-add Bravo products, like juice and dried fruit, to use more of the harvest and create sustainable, profitable orchards.
"Our export markets value the health-promoting qualities of the produce, and the health study will provide scientific evidence to open the door to potential markets in the lucrative health and wellness sector.
"This investment is another example of our Government's investment in collaborative research and innovation throughout the food supply chain."
As stated by Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"It's exciting that new products from an iconic WA brand like Bravo apples will be developed right here in Murray-Wellington.
"The Cook Labor Government's investment in the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies Centre and Food Innovation Precinct of WA is supporting local food and beverage manufacturing.
"Having access to these state-of-the-art facilities is encouraging innovation amongst producers, helping them to grow their operations and creating jobs in regional WA."
