Chinese apples to go on sale in Australia

[scott]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nation ... 5988958772

Chinese apples are about to go on sale in Australia, apparently they are branded Great Wall. Coles, Woollies etc are refusing to stock them, good on em, we don't want anymore inferior Chinese imports clogging up our shelves.

[Frances]

apparently they are branded Great Wall.

Not a brand name that inspires confidence in the quality of the product.........

[Bedford-29]

Great Wall apples what do have a engine under the skin and do spit the tyres out as you eat them .As a ex fruit picker who picked apples at Bacchus Marsh in Victoria I certainly would not entertain the idea buying exported produce I rather have Australian grown.You would not know what part of China they were grown and what damaging disease`s they on the fruit industry out.That is why these twits have got to understand.

[Volvo B12BLEA]

She'll be apples.....NOT!!!!

[Andrew]

I hope NO ONE ever buys these. It is an absolute disgrace they are allowed in the country. I am glad to read that Coles and Wollies wont stock them - who will I wonder....??

Also, watch out for frozen vegetables - more and more of them are from China and they are absolutely crap! I onyl ever buy frozen vegies from Aus or NZ.

[Bedford-29]

But some dopey twit in the Federal government and who ever involved in making this decision don`t know what pests and whatever other nasty could be dormant while in transit from China and then be awaken when unloaded which could really stuff things up.Like I picked Apples at Bacchus Marsh for three years when I was living at Ballarat and always got good Australian Apples to munch on as many I wanted so they can take these Chinese Apple and stick em where the sun don`t shine.

[Denning-6V71]

Hmmm, who in our Federal Cabinet speaks fluent Chinese again...?

[busrider]

That be former Plime Minster Kevvy Ludd.

[kitkat271]

Coles & Woolies are only refusing to stock 'em becos they probably don't come cheap enough. If they manage to sharpen their pricing, I'm sure they'll stock it. With those two duopolists there's no room for patriotism if there's a dollar in it for them.

[Frances]

I wouldn't buy them, but how many forum members don't think twice about buying Chinese garlic? And do you check to see where your oyster mushrooms, cauliflower and broccoli come from?

[Andrew]

I check everything I can, yes.

[ajw373]

But some dopey twit in the Federal government and who ever involved in making this decision don`t know what pests and whatever other nasty could be dormant while in transit from China and then be awaken when unloaded which could really stuff things up.Like I picked Apples at Bacchus Marsh for three years when I was living at Ballarat and always got good Australian Apples to munch on as many I wanted so they can take these Chinese Apple and stick em where the sun don`t shine.

Whilst I agree that getting apples from China is a bit too much, your post though misses the mark a little bit. Our quarantine rules and inspections are second to none so I would have no doubt there are no nasties laying dormant in them. Also decisions like this are not made by the Federal Government, they are made by individuals who want to make a quick buck. So to summerise, XXX apples, XXX idea yes, disease infested no.

[Newcastle Flyer]

I check everything I can, yes.

So then are you going to give up EVERYTHING that is made in China, be they fooid items or not?

[Andrew]

If I can buy Australian or NZ first preference, be it fruit, veg, anything in the supermarket - then I always do no matter what the difference in price is.

[mubd]

I am glad to read that Coles and Wollies wont stock them - who will I wonder....??

Chinese greengrocers and Aldi.

[eddy]

There should be a flat tax on every container that comes into the country.This would not only make a level playing field for our farmers/manufactures without the hassel of tarriffs or with the world free trade but would pay for the road/rail and ports infrastructure.

[tbc1983]

*sighs*

More money leaving the country...just so we can do things on the cheap...

We're making China rich...

Cheers!

[adx666]

Thank christ I dont eat apples!

[dude]

How'd you like dem Apples. You guys should be eating an Apple from Nagano or Aomori instead.

[kitkat271]

Dude I don't think we can afford anything grown in Japan ... I suppose there's a reason why "made in Japan" food has a higher sticker than imported food in Japan!

[boronia]

There should be a flat tax on every container that comes into the country.This would not only make a level playing field for our farmers/manufactures without the hassel of tarriffs or with the world free trade but would pay for the road/rail and ports infrastructure.

There is already a rake of charges for "wharfage", customs/quarantine clearances, etc. But obviously not enough to make a big dent in eventual retail prices.

[Vitalstatistix]

*sighs*

More money leaving the country...just so we can do things on the cheap...

We're making China rich...

Cheers!

The cost of globalisation...

[ajw373]

There should be a flat tax on every container that comes into the country.This would not only make a level playing field for our farmers/manufactures without the hassel of tarriffs or with the world free trade but would pay for the road/rail and ports infrastructure.

Actually if anything we are the ones who need to get more competative rather than charging more to import. You also need to remember that with goods in particular it is the consumer making the choice, so the simple answer is don't like these overseas product don't buy them and pay more for the local product.

[eddy]

ajw373
While I am not in favour of tarriffs because it favours some Australians over others a container tax I think would be fairer.
There is a health risk because they do not have the same standards as us and because their labour is so cheap our farmers cannot compete and will eventually go broke.
From a pollution point of view it is ridiculous to ship or more likely fly things here that can be easily produced here and the Australian farmer is probobly the least protected in the world.
Lastly the thought came to me a few years ago that most countries have anti monopoly laws but if the whole world ends up closing their farms and factories then China can put whatever price on goods they want and we will have no farmers or manufactures to fall back on.
I am as guilty as anyone for buying Chinese stuff but it does worry me that one day we will produce nothing even though I like China.

[ajw373]

ajw373
While I am not in favour of tarriffs because it favours some Australians over others a container tax I think would be fairer.
There is a health risk because they do not have the same standards as us and because their labour is so cheap our farmers cannot compete and will eventually go broke.
From a pollution point of view it is ridiculous to ship or more likely fly things here that can be easily produced here and the Australian farmer is probobly the least protected in the world.
Lastly the thought came to me a few years ago that most countries have anti monopoly laws but if the whole world ends up closing their farms and factories then China can put whatever price on goods they want and we will have no farmers or manufactures to fall back on.
I am as guilty as anyone for buying Chinese stuff but it does worry me that one day we will produce nothing even though I like China.

Our farmers don't need protection, they need to come into the 21st century. Our technology and choice of product to produce should counter any labour cost advantage countries like this have. Our farmers should also be choosing products that suit Australian conditions which should make them cheaper to produce.

When it comes to pollution you also need to factor in the enviromental cost of what Australian farmers are doing to our land by over farming and over use of water resources. Don't get me wrong I don't want to see more Chinese food just like the next guy, but we, as a country need to face reality and better look after our land. China is not going to become a monopoly supplier, simple fact is they don't have enough land to be able to do this.

Also the argument about health risks is totally unfounded. As I mentioned above Australian health and quarantine laws are amongs the strongest in the world.

PS what about all the other food products from countires elsewhere? Lots of the prawns and other fish products you buy will come from Vietnam, most of your rice from places such as Thailand and fruit from all over Asia. It is a world economy and protecting Australian farmers isn't the way forward.