What island is known as "The Apple Isle"?

Tasmania, being one of Australia's six states, is often referred to as "The Apple Isle" because of its outstanding apple growing industry. The first apple seedlings were planted on Bruny Island off the coast of Tasmania by Captain Bligh in 1788. Apples became an important crop in the early colonial settlement which has continued to the present.

With the exception of the introduction of the codling moth from the UK in the 1870s which threatened the development of the apple industry and led to the industry being re-organised, Tasmania has continued to produce apples with many by-products being introduced from the industry. Some of these are dried apples, jams, jellies and cider.

While Tasmania continues to grow and export apples, the industry has experienced a period of rationalisation and diversification with some fruit growers transitioning away from applies and diversifying into other stone fruit or berry production. Having said this, during the period 2010-11, the industry saw a farm-gate value of $32.2 million.