Development of Prunus mume, a new tree crop for Australia A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by B Topp, J Noller and D Russell March 2007 RIRDC Publication No.07/053 RIRDC Project No. DAQ-298A © 2007 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 450 9 ISSN 1440-6845 Development of Prunus mume, a new tree crop for Australia Publication No. 07/053 Project No. DAQ-298A The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Dr Bruce Topp Judy Noller Principal Plant Breeder Trade and Business Officer Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Nambour/Maroochy Research Station 21 Redden Street Mayers Road CAIRNS QLD 4870 NAMBOUR QLD 4560 Phone: 07 4044 1617 Phone: 07 5444 9687 Fax: 07 4035 5474 Fax: 07 5441 2235 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dougal Russell Senior Experimentalist Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Applethorpe Research Station STANTHORPE QLD 4380 Phone: 07 4681 6131 Fax: 07 4681 1769 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in March 2007 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword There is no Australian mume industry although mume is an important fruit in many Asian countries and mume products are imported to Australia. This study investigates both market and agronomic aspects of mume production. The market research identifies the products and markets which could support a viable industry. The agronomic research studies the adaptation of five mume cultivars under Australian growing conditions. The report identifies domestic and international market prospects for the world’s three leading mume products – salty plum (dried mume snacks), umeboshi (mume pickle) and umeshu (mume liqueur) – and evaluates and describes their domestic and Japanese markets. The key findings are that there are no export markets for fresh fruit, some potential for umeboshi pickles in the Japanese market, and an opportunity for umeshu in domestic and export markets, although competition from an expanding industry in China is likely to intensify. The research will enable producers, manufacturers and investors to evaluate the feasibility of producing mume in Australia. The findings indicate that a fruit industry will depend on a domestic processing industry capable of producing products acceptable to experienced consumers and willing to develop new markets. This will in turn require developing strategic alliances with the Japanese industry to produce and market competitive products. This project was funded from RIRDC core funds which are provided by the Australian Government through the Asian Foods Program, the Queensland Government and industry revenue. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1500 research publications. It forms part of our Asian Foods R&D sub-program which aims to foster the development of a viable Asian Foods industry in Australia. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments In particular the authors acknowledge the following individuals who have contributed to the project: Kenji Beppu Grant Bignell Stacy Griffin Daryl and Sim Hayward Ray Hick Ikuo Kataoka Naoko Kozai Geoff McMahon Kerry Miles Y Mizuta Vong Nguyen Yumi Ozaki Robert Warneford Ien Chie Wen Jon and Gillian White Robin Wolfe Hideaki Yaegaki M Yamaguchi Hideki Yamane Mai Yanagawa Abbreviations ARS Applethorpe Research Station JETRO Japan External Trade Organisation MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries MRS Maroochy Research Station The exchange rate used to convert prices during the Japan visit is A$0.01197 to one Japanese yen, or ¥82.53 to one Australian dollar. iv Contents Foreword............................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................. iv Abbreviations........................................................................................................................................ iv Contents.................................................................................................................................................. v List of Tables........................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures..................................................................................................................................... viii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. ix 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Description of Prunus mume ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Importance of mume in Asia and range of mume products................................................... 1 1.3 Objectives of the project ........................................................................................................ 2 2. Profiles of overseas mume industries and selection of overseas market for further research. 3 2.1 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Burma..................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 China...................................................................................................................................... 3 2.4 Indonesia................................................................................................................................ 4 2.5 Korea...................................................................................................................................... 4 2.6 Japan ...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.7 New Zealand .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.8 Singapore ............................................................................................................................... 7 2.9 Taiwan ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.10 Thailand ................................................................................................................................. 8 2.11 United States .......................................................................................................................... 8 2.12 Vietnam.................................................................................................................................. 9 2.13 Selection of overseas market for research.............................................................................. 9 3. Evaluation of the Australian domestic market .......................................................................... 10 3.1 Methods ..............................................................................................................................