By Les Watkins
Apples from New Zealand are still forbidden fruit for many Aussies – despite their importation getting the thumbs-up from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
A 90-year ban on apples from this country being exported across the Tasman was lifted on August 17, with Gillard’s approval, following a ruling by the World Trade Organisation.
The first consignments were then sent and Napier apple-growing brothers, Ross and Brue Beaton, reported that Sydneysiders loved the crunchy Pacific rose varieties they were giving as free tasters outside the city’s Opera House.
Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton says he is absolutely thrilled to see New Zealand apples being eaten in Australia.
“We want to congratulate Pipfruit New Zealand and all apple growers for their determination and patience. 
“This is a goal that has looked at times to be almost impossible to score, and they’ve finally done it. We are delighted for them,” he says.
But opposition to the importing of apples was fierce and a campaign against the lifting of the ban had already been spearheaded by the grower body Apple and Pear Australia.
Aussie politicians joined the battle and early in July John Cobb MP announced he was planning a private member’s bill which could prevent NZ apples reaching his country’s supermarkets.
Pipfruit New Zealand spokesman Peter Beavan denounced this as a bid to build trade barriers.
“We have a scientific process which has been proven and [has]supported New Zealand’s case for the past ten years,” he said. “Now the Australians are continuing to try and run political interference.”
While the Beaton brothers were winning new friends with their free apples, the two main supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, said they could not sell NZ apples.
Within days of the ban being lifted the South Australian supermarket chain Foodland also announced it would not stock NZ apples. Spokesman Russell Markham said this decision had been made to support the local apple-growing industry.
Australian growers are now demanding tougher inspection rules after some leaf matter and a dead insect were found in a consignment destined for export.
Australia’s Quarantine Inspection Service confirmed a shipment had been rejected and Apple and Pear Australia described the failed inspection as “extremely disturbing”.
The chief executive of the Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia, Greg Crammond, says the possibility of this type of material being in packing boxes poses a great risk of fire blight being transmitted.
But Pete Beavan of Pipfruit New Zealand is confident protocols are working and that there is no risk to Australia.
A recent survey of 1,000 Australian shoppers by Pipfruit, showed that 46 per cent believed NZ apples had always been available to them.
