Australia: Pome fruit industry lanches Hailstorm Heroes campaign
The South Australian apple industry has launched a domestic campaign to promote fruit damaged in severe hailstorms in October last year, which destroyed a quarter of the region’s crop. 
The weather events occurred when the fruit was in its early stages of growth and resulted in widespread cosmetic damage, according to the Apple and Pear Growers Association of South Australia (APGASA).
This fruit will now be sold as part of the Hailstorm Heroes initiative, which has been launched by supermarkets and greengrocers in Southern Australia and the Northern Territory.
APGASA CEO Susie Green said that all varieties of apple and pear had been affected by the storms.
"Royal Gala apples and Williams pears will be first Hailstorm Heroes at supermarkets and greengrocers. However, the hail marks may actually be more visible on popular varieties harvested in late autumn, like Pink Lady or Granny Smith apples and Packham pears," she said.
Hort Innovation chief executive John Lloyd said they had worked closely with the industry to develop the campaign.
"Affected growers are telling us they want to get the message out to consumers loud and clear: pears and apples with a few small hail spots are still great quality and good to eat".
Fifth generation apple and pear grower Brett James said that the hail had hit his orchard three times over the night.
"The fine hail went straight through the hail net, covering all the trees and marking the skin of small fruit that was starting to grow".
"Since the storm, we have had excellent growing conditions and a relatively mild summer so the apples and pears we managed to save have matured and developed delicious, full flavors".
"We hope shoppers will look past the spots and support us by eating Hailstorm Hero apples and pears".
