AUSTRALIAN fruit growers have a better understanding of what international consumers are looking for when purchasing fruit, thanks to a series of surveys carried out in China, Thailand and Indonesia.

Agriculture Victoria research scientist Bruce Tomkins said there were huge opportunities to grow the market for Australian pears and stone-fruit in all three countries.

“To do this, however, marketers need to understand what shoppers want and prices they are willing to pay,” Mr Tomkins said.

“Australian grown’ was identified as a key driver for sales in all markets, but we need to provide the right cultivar, with the right characteristics, at the right price,” he said.

Mr Tomkins said one survey looked at two new pears Deliza and Lanya in Thailand and Indonesia and compared them to the well-known Packham pear.

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