Bring on the donuts!

Of course, I’m not talking about the deep-fried sugar dusted kind, but rather the popular donut peaches coming in now from the hills. Like many of the ‘unusual’ fruits and veg we have at the store  they are not new nor genetically modified (as some assume), but quite the opposite! They are heirloom or older varieties being brought back into circulation by local growers (donut peaches are actually the descendants of wild pan tao or peento peaches from China). Adding to the biodiversity at the store are the cute Sugar Baby heirloom variety watermelons grown by our passionate young grower Russel Oversby and Jujubes (otherwise known as Chinese Dates) from a biodynamic grower in Bindoon.

All this biodiversity in the region is not only great for our taste buds, but is also making an important contribution to food security and the ability of our food crops to withstand threats from pests, environmental changes and changing economics. The recent discovery of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly)in a Perth suburb has further highlighted the importance of vigilance around protecting our food sources!

Early in March Qfly was detected in surveillance traps monitored by DPIRD in Bayswater, sparking a program to trap, bait and inspect trees and verges throughout several surrounding suburbs. I caught up with DPIRD officer Nancye Gannaway at the Slow Food AGM last week, where she discussed the various actions being taken, but also stressed the importance of backyard growers keeping an eye on their trees and vegetable gardens.

“Qfly is a declared pest which breeds in more than 300 fruit and fruiting vegetable varieties and is a huge threat to our horticultural industry. While DPIRD acted quickly to contain this outbreak, we are urging everyone to be vigilant and act quickly especially if they are in the quarantine area” she said. “If you have host fruit, pick it and eat it, or bag it, treat it and bin it!” More information including a full list of host fruit can be found here.