ORANGE’S apple growers will save at least $3 million after two major supermarkets relented on their demand that the fruit be waxed to make it look more shiny.
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Coles supermarkets moved to selling wax-free apples last week and Woolworths will do the same next week.
Both chains said the move was due to demand for more natural-looking fruit.
Orange apple grower Peter Darley hailed it as a big win just weeks before this year’s harvest.
Mr Darley said spraying apples with wax was expensive due to the high cost of the LPG needed to heat the substance.
He said the LPG cost $1.50 per case of apples.
That equated to a $60,000 saving for his 40,000 cases of apples and more than $3 million for the 2-2.5 million cases of apples produced in Orange every year.
“A major issue in our favour is that the supermarkets have said they will accept apples that are un-waxed. People are looking to buy the natural product.”
“This is a big saving. LPG gas is not cheap, it is like petrol, it is expensive.”
Mr Darley said the spraying was done in packing sheds.
He said shoppers wanted more natural products but it did not mean they would miss out on seeing shiny fruit in their store.
“They will still be washed and polished, just not waxed.”
Growers will also save on labour costs and on having to clean waxing machines.
Coles spokeswoman Jasmine Zwiebel said the move would not effect the price of apples.
“It’s a cost reduction for the growers,” she said.
“Fruit pricing is seasonal, prices will fluctuate.”
And she said it would not change the quality or taste.
“The wax applied was safe, edible food wax.
“Some people will say they [un-waxed] are more fragrant or flavourful but we don’t have any evidence of that.”
Woolworths Head of Produce Scott Davidson said they had listened to customer demand.
“It has been undertaken in full consultation with both the industry body, Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) and all Woolworths apple suppliers.”
He said the main reason for waxing was presentation.
“While an un-waxed apple make look duller, it will still taste just as good and will contain all the nutrients that an added wax apple has.”
Orange naturopath Angela Duncan welcomed the move.
“The more natural food we eat, the better. Our bodies are made to eat apples, not apples dipped in wax,” she said.