True blue Aus-Jubilee pineapple makes its debut

The wait is over - the first ever Australian born and bred pineapple has hit supermarket shelves.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said researchers from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) had developed the Aus-Jubilee pineapple.

"The Aus-Jubilee was locally bred on the Sunshine Coast and is the first truly Australian variety of pineapple to be produced," the Minister said.

"This new Aussie pineapple is the result of a 15 year breeding program between the Queensland Government, Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) and the Queensland pineapple industry.

"Queensland's pineapple industry began in the 1920s and now is worth an estimated $70 million annually.

"The Aus-Jubilee is expected to help grow the industry because it has twice the Vitamin C of other pineapples.

"It has an aromatic flavour, low acidity, firm f lesh and good colouration, making it the natural choice for people wanting a healthy, delicious snack for the kids.

"The Aus-Jubilee is consistent in quality for growers and consumers.

"There is no guess work with this pineapple - it will be good eating every time without the worry of being affected by pineapple blackheart (internal browning), translucent flesh or other internal blemishes."

The Minister said limitations of the canning variety, Smooth Cayenne, as a fresh fruit led the Queensland Government and HAL to undertake a breeding program.

"Researchers wanted to develop new sweet varieties with less acid and a range of exciting new flavours," he said.

"Other imported varieties of pineapple are being produced and marketed in Australia but the Aus-Jubilee is the first Australian variety."

Agri-Science Queensland scientist Dr Garth Sanewski said much of the research was done at the Maroochy Research Centre.

"The Aus- Jubilee was developed by cross-pollination, with thousands of seedlings grown and those with the best characters were selected," he said.

"The parents of Aus-Jubilee were an imported Hawaiian variety and the common processing pineapple, Smooth Cayenne.

"The breeding program which produced Aus-Jubilee was the first pineapple breeding program in Australia.

"The Aus-Jubilee is the first of DEEDI's breeding program to be multiplied up to commercial quantities."

The Queensland Government's commercialisation partner for the Aus-Jubilee, Favco Queensland was selected to bring the Aus-Jubilee into local supermarkets across Australia.

Favco Queensland Business Manager, Todd Parker, said they were happy with the positive responses received by all who had tried the Aus-Jubilee pineapples.

"The Aus-Jubilee, amongst other varieties being launched by Favco Queensland, will be clearly branded by its variety name, so consumers will no longer have to guess what they are getting in a pineapple," Mr Parker said.

"Consumers will be able to choose their favourite pineapple variety much the same as they would with an apple."

All varieties will be marketed under the 'Pure Aussie' brand and will be available this year, with the Aus-Jubilee being the crowning glory for taste.

"The Aus-Jubilee is so consistent for taste, we believe consumers will start buying whole fruit again instead of cut fruit.

"A large percentage of consumers buy cut fruit because they want to see what they are getting or regular pineapples may be too large for their needs.

"The Aus-Jubilee is a smaller and sweeter pineapple and being resistant to black heart and other internal issues, it's a product consumers can trust."

The Aus-Jubilee pineapple is now available until the end of season in late September, early October 2010.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
07/09/2010

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Publish Date: 07 Sep 10