Smashed not squeezed

Are you tried of trying to find that perfectly ripe Avo at your local fruit and vege shop? Well it could be the thing of the past with the development of a new “Avocado Firmness Decision Aid Tool’ nicknamed the ‘Readycado’, which is on show at this year’s Ekka.

Speaking at the Ekka today, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said research showed that we were loving our avocados to death by frequently squeezing the fruit too hard.

“We want to take the pressure off this much-loved delicacy and make it easier to assess just how ripe an avocado is without bruising it in the process,” Minister Furner said.

“Under a project funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has worked with The University of Queensland and Avocados Australia to come up with a tool that eliminates the need for handling avocados in stores.

“The tool is still a prototype, but it’s the way of the future. When applied to an avocado, a pressure sensor attached to your thumb triggers green LED lights on the tool’s display showing if the avocado is ripe enough for salad, or for a guacamole dish, and if you start pressing too hard red warning lights come on.

“Once commercialised, they could become commonplace in shops within 3-5 years. There is also a big opportunity for an adaptation of the tool to be used in fruit vending machines, which are becoming increasingly popular.

“The Avocado Firmness Decision Aid Tool Machine will be on show at the Government Pavilion today where visitors will be able to use it on some special avocados and see how it works.”

In recent years, the growing demand for avocados has seen local production increase significantly.

The main growing areas in Queensland are the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg-Childers district, Central Burnett, Atherton Tableland, Tamborine, Toowoomba range and the Lockyer Valley.

Further information is available at www.daf.qld.gov.au

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ENDS

Media – Tim Auguston 0417 768 626