Batlow Apples are packed into bins on the orchards and transported to the Batlow Apple Co-operative just minutes away. The apples are then put into special rooms where they are kept at just the right temperature to keep them fresh, crisp and juicy. It is here that our apples lie waiting to be graded and packed into the famous green carton ready for market.

Step 1 - The gentle touch to prevent bruising

We all know how easily an apple can bruise and for this reason, the grading process for apples at Batlow is a special one. By using water canals throughout the process, we ensure they are gently transported and not bumped around or damaged!

Our apples are unloaded by submerging the bins in water, allowing the fruit to float through a canal to a further water tank in a process known as the pillow effect. At this stage, the apples are washed in clean, temperature controlled water. The clean apples are then sent on a conveyor belt to be graded.

Step 2 - Sorting out the bad apples

Before receiving the Batlow seal of approval, our apples go through a rigorous sorting process. Each and every apple is checked by sight, and then photographed both inside and out by our revolutionary grading machine. Each apple is photographed 42 times!

Any fruit that does not meet the Batlow standard is separated, while the rest of the apples continue on conveyor belts to the next stage.

Step 3 - A clean and shiny Batlow Apple

After the first sorting stage, the apples are returned to a water tank, moved over soft brushes then rinsed. The apples are dried using high velocity air fans. Next, a natural wax is applied by a pulse pump through a number of jets. This gives the fruit protection against dehydration and their glossy, shiny appearance.

Step 4 - Photo time

After being waxed, the apples are moved onto another grading table for double checking to ensure only the best fruit will be packed. These apples are sorted once again into various grades according to quality.

From here, every first grade apple gets photographed again. The apples are sent along a speedy five lane grader fitted with a camera box that photographs 40 pieces of fruit per second. This camera is programmed with the strict grading standards of the Batlow Fruit Co-operative to assess the colour of each piece of fruit. Each apple is then weighed and separated to be packed with apples of similar size, colour and weight.

Step 5 - Stickers and Cartons

After this final grading, each apple is given the Batlow seal of approval with our green Batlow sticker. They are placed onto trays and into cartons which are loaded onto pallets to be stored in our coolrooms to await daily transportation to markets throughout Australia.