In A Nutshell Summer 2024 | Page 8

INDUSTRY NEWS

Meet Murray ...

“

We
' ve only just launched it and we ' ve already got three companies that have put it on their packs to designate Australian origin almonds in India .
- Tim Jackson , Almond Board CEO
LEFT : Australian Almonds ambassador Poh Ling Yeow with the new global mascot , Murray .
8
A NEW global mascot has been
Delegates at the Australian Almond
developed to help promote Australian
Conference were asked to help name
Almonds .
the kangaroo and more than 100
The kangaroo , made from almond
entries were submitted .
kernels , has been well received by
Murray was selected as the winning
the industry and almond traders
name , because it provided a link
overseas .
to the region and river where the
Almond Board of Australia CEO Tim
majority of Australian almonds are
Jackson said the mascot has been
grown .
well received both domestically and
“ We ’ re as committed to the health of
overseas .
the Murray-Darling Basin as anyone ,”
“ The Opera House , the Sydney
Mr Jackson said .
Habour Bridge , a kangaroo and a
“ It ’ s about trying to ensure that we
koala are probably the four top things
tick all of the ESG boxes , that we ’ re
that people from overseas recognise
as sustainable as we can , while also
from Australia , so to have a little
driving demand in those markets
almond kangaroo hits the spot on
where we can ensure that we can
both fronts ,” he said .
get the premium returns that growers
“ We ’ ve only just launched it and
deserve .”
we ’ ve already got three companies
This isn ’ t the first time that the almond
that have put it on their packs to
industry has used a kangaroo in
designate Australian origin almonds
branding activities overseas , but
in India .”
Mr Jackson said making use of the
In A Nutshell - Summer 2024 Vol 25 Issue 4
kernel colour and appearance more generally is very creative . “ We had some great success with international wholesalers knowing that Australia grows almonds , that ’ s been our journey over the last 20 years , but now it ’ s about taking that to the consumers in a lot of those markets and making them understand ,” he said . As a result of the positive feedback and the creative names generated at the Australian Almond Conference Mr Jackson said other almond kangaroo characters are likely to be introduced . “ We ’ ll probably be launching one with eyelashes and a pouch as we head into the New Year and the early betting on the naming of that will be Darling , so we ’ ll have Murray and Darling as our two kangaroos ,” he said .