Australian Cherries and Summer Stone Fruits Now Available At Major Retail Outlets

Australian Cherries and Summer Stone Fruits Now Available At Major Retail Outlets

 Malaysians can look forward to more premium quality, healthy and safe Australian produce this year as a new campaign takes off at leading retail outlets. The launch of the 'Now! In Season' campaign is aimed at promoting various Australian fresh fruits and vegetables at their peak quality and availability. 

Malaysia imported A$5.3million (RM71.3 million) or 871 tonnes of Australian fruits in 2015. Over the last five years, between 2011 and 2015, the value and quantity of imported Australian fruits each grew by approximately 30 percent per annum - a clear demonstration of the high demand for top quality Australian produced in a very competitive market. The growth is expected to further increase due to this campaign. 

The Now! In Season program espouses Australia's quality soil, continual supply of clean water, strict food safety regulations and innovative farm practices. These factors, amongst others, are its horticulture industry's marks of distinction.

Additionally, Australia's proximity to Malaysia and a proven track record of quality exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to global markets make it an attractive choice. 

Throughout the year, the Now! In Season campaign will educate consumers on the seasonality of the commodities, health and nutritional benefits of Australian produce as well as how to select and store the seasonal commodities. 

Cherries and summer stones fruits such as plums, nectarines, apricots and peaches are available from now until March. Table grapes come will be available from March to May, and citrus fruits such as oranges are available from August to October. Australian vegetables are available through out the year due to Australia wide production.

Now! In Season is a global campaign by the Victorian State Government, Australian Government and Horticulture Innovative Australia. 

How to choosing and storing the cherries?

• Buying - choose cherries with green stems attached. The color of cherries will vary according to variety, however they should all appear plump with shiny skin. Avoid cherries that are soft and bruised or small and hard.
• Storage - Once picked, cherries cease to ripen, so should be consumed within 4 days of purchase. They last longer with the stem attached. Store cherries, loosely packed, in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge. Cherries can also be frozen, pitted, for up to 6 months.
• Preparation - Rinse cherries immediately before consuming. Fresh cherries can be served intact with stones or once pitted, however, the stones should be removed before use in cooking. To remove the stones use a cherry pitter or, using a small sharp knife, cut a slit in one side of the cherry then remove the stone. Most cherries are very juicy, so consider pitting them inside a plastic bag to avoid stains.

Quote attributable to Her Excellency, Dr Angela Macdonald, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia: 

"We are proud to be offering Malaysian Australian produce that is the benchmark for quality, safety and health. These fruits are not only great-tasting, healthy and nutritious, but are backed by our world-leading food safety standards, traceability and quality assurance systems."

Quote attributable to Brett Stevens, Commissioner to South East Asia, Government of Victoria, Australia:

"Through this campaign, we're giving Malaysian consumers a taste of the best quality Australian produce. Our horticulture sector has a strong foundation, and we're continuously innovating to ensure we bring only the finest fruit and vegetables to stores."

Facebook: Facebook.com/nowinseasonMY

Instagram: instagram.com/nowinseasonMY

Nikkori Pear and Ibaraki Japanese Sweet Potatoes at AEON BIG Stores

Do you like to eat pears and sweet potatoes? If yes, you gonna like to eat Nikkori Pear and Ibaraki Japanese Sweet Poatoes. 

Few days ago I attended the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Association (Zen-Noh) - the truested and reliable go - between linking producers and consumers in Japan - launched two of its products Nikkori Pear and Ibaraki Japanese Potatoes at Mid Valley's AEON BIG Store. 

From left Mr Mitsuru Nakata, Managing Director of AEON BIG with the VIPS.

Currently you can these fruits selling at major hypermarkets store, these two purely Japanese-

grown agricultural produce.

With the growing popularity of healthy and clean eating in Malaysia,

Zen-Noh - in collaboration with Eurofarm, Malaysia's leading fruits and vegetables importer and exporter - were excited to expose local market to the high - quality, carefully - tended and innovative agricultural produce that Japan has to offer.

My son on the left photo holding the Nikkori Pear and Ibaraki Japanese Sweet Potatoes on the right photo.

Nikkori Pear, a new late maturing, russet-skin type cultivar of Japanese pear produced from the Tochigi prefecture is a new type of pear developed from cross seedlings between full-figured Niitaka and flavourful Hosui in 1984.

Do you know that Nikkori pear can only be harvested in mid-October? Then stored for a long period of time until February, thus specialty and superiority of its unique fruit.

Japan also prides on their Sweet Potatoes, a purely Japanese - grown produce from the prefecture of Ibaraki - the second- biggest producer of sweet potatoes in Japan in terms of both production area and amount. The most widely grown variety of sweet potatoes in this prefecture is 'Beniazuma and Beniharuka', known for its characteristically soft and flaky texture.

Do you know each Nikkori Pear weight one kg? 

Nikkori Pear and Ibaraki Japanese Sweet Potatoes personally grown in Japan taste sweeter and fresher as it's tended to with care and consideration by Japanese farmers. You'll like the these agricultural products, retaining the sweetness and natural flavours of the pear and sweet potatoes.

If you like to know the price of the Nikkori Pear, it cost RM22.90 for each.
The Ibaraki Japanse Sweet Poatoes cost RM9.90 each packet.

Don't just read here, if you have interest to shop for them, head to AEON BIG. AEON BIG is the first hypermarket chain offering true Japanese produce.

Dehydrated Durain from Krabi Airport

I like to eat durian and I didn't buy any durian to eat at Krabi Island, near to hotel doesn't have durian to purchase.

I bought this dehydrated durian pack from Krabi Aiport, it's most expensive durian I bought. No kidding it cost me 300 baht which mean RM30. Inside of this pack only contains of 3 packs, you can see just like above picture. So small packs and so little to eat. I can tell you I am not satisfied with this durian and it's not taste as good as durian we have in Malaysia.

For your info, this dehydrated durian taste no good and I don't recommend it. 

Not many shops in Krabi Airport, I am sure you seen more shops in KLIA 2. 

Jambu air

I love going to playground, it is free you don't have to pay for it. I don't like is the playground has the jambu air all over the place. It seems the cleaners only taking care of the big playground not the small playground. I saw the cleaners resting outside big playground. So you see the big playground is very clean and small playground is not.

The other day I saw a young man holding a sachet of tomato sauce, he plucks the jambu air and eats right away with the tomato sauce. I am not sure if it tastes good I never try to eat like that. The playground is nice place for adult and kids but the jambu air makes the place unpleasant with lots of flies.

There are mosquitoes too so you need to apply lotion to avoid the mosquitoes bite. I find a house at another section that is vacant they have fish pond behind and nobody cleans it. I am sure you know they will be breeding ground for mosquitoes. I don't understand why the agent of the house just let it be.