Australia's Pink Lady Apple industry is going ahead with an A$115,000 (€63,800) project aimed at increasing exports of the variety.

The initiative, in conjunction with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, Horticulture Australia Limited and PIRSA, will focus on the delivery of apples to the UK market at reduced supply chain costs.

Rory McEwen, Australian Agriculture Food and Fisheries Minister, said: 'Australia's pink lady apple exports to the UK dropped to less than 50,000 cartons last year, from a previous peak of 280,000 cartons, so this project is aimed at revitalising exports.'

'The project includes trialling bulk exports of Pink Lady apples to the UK in an aim to reduce risk, improve our competitiveness and rebuild industry confidence in exports,' he added.