NUFFIELD SCHOLAR LEADING THE WORLD IN AUSTRALIAN NATIVE FINGER LIMES: AGRIFUTURES AUSTRALIA Source: https://arr.news/, news release, First published Agrifutures Australia, Aug 21, 2025 In the subtropical rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales, a remarkable fruit has quietly thrived for thousands of years.The Australian native finger lime, with its vibrant “citrus caviar” pearls and tangy flavour, was once known only to Indigenous communities. Today, it’s captivating chefs and consumers around the world and considered one of Australia’s emerging industries. But while global interest is growing, Australia’s leadership in finger lime production is no longer guaranteed. Queensland grower Jade King, a 2022 Nuffield Scholar sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, set out to explore this challenge. Her international research journey uncovered both the immense potential and the urgent risks facing the native finger lime industry. From Guatemala to California, her findings are shaping a new vision for how Australia can lead the commercialisation of its native foods. Jade’s own journey began with a 350-tree orchard on the Sunshine Coast. Today, Green Valley Finger limes is home to more than 2,000 trees. But her research revealed a surprising reality: the world’s largest producer of finger limes is not in Australia, but in Guatemala, where Prime Tropics manages over 20,000 trees. This discovery prompted King to investigate how Australia could reclaim its leadership. Her study revealed a rapidly expanding global industry. In California, up to 30,000 trees are supported by research programs at UC-Riverside. Commercial operations are also emerging across Italy, France, Opening Lines 5 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 08
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