YOUR MARKET
Opportunities
for Australian indigenous and Asian vegetables
A
11 Indigenous vegetables and nine Asian vegetables identified.
recent study funded by Hort Innovation has identified Australian indigenous and Asian vegetables which have the potential to be commercially viable. It also discovered those vegetables which hold the greatest appeal to Australian consumers and provides recommendations about what to do to have the greatest likelihood of success in the market.
The project included a review of what we already know, a discussion with consumers, a survey to back up these ideas, some taste work, and a plan for opportunities and some recommendations. The project identified some commercially available Australian Indigenous vegetables and Asian vegetables that hold the greatest appeal to consumers; recommendations to increase purchase and consumption of these vegetables; and ideas to improve breeding programs and postharvest production to ensure greatest longterm market success.
3 CONSUMERS liked the crunchiness, health benefits, and refreshing flavour of Daikon.
As a result, growers can get a better idea about the size of the opportunity for Australian Indigenous vegetables and Asian vegetables and understand the ways that they can ensure the greatest return on their investment, and ultimately, profitability. Through this project, the research firm Colmar Brunton, was able to identify that there is a great opportunity and much potential around commercialising and expanding the distribution of both Asian and Indigenous vegetables in the Australian market. A large proportion of consumers are attracted to the idea of purchasing these unique vegetables. There were 20 vegetables evaluated in total (11 Indigenous vegetables, nine Asian vegetables).
Vegetable profiles Table 1 outlines the findings from the research project in terms of a vegetable’s sensory profile, cooking styles that consumers would use the vegetables in and appeal of shelf life & storage methods.
Overall, key insights and recommendations • Availability: The prevalence of these vegetables should be encouraged and facilitated in Australian food service and manufacturing based on relevant consumer trends of functional health, provenance and Indigenous ingredients. This should lead to a greater consumer demand and broader availability in retail WA Grower WINTER 2020
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