Expansion into NSW and Victoria
Since 2001/02, Perigord Truffles of Tasmania have established truffières in the colder areas of NSW and Victoria.
The key criteria that PTT have used in deciding which areas to establish truffières are:
- Climate. Winter minimum temperatures should regularly fall below minus 2 degrees Celsius. Summer maximum temperatures should not regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
- Soils. Soils need to be free draining and well structured.
- Irrigation. Availability of good quality irrigation water.
- Regular air freight service. One of the key objectives of the marketing strategy for the truffles is to have the truffles delivered to restaurants as fresh as possible. Hence a regular daily air service is essential.
In NSW, truffières have been established in the Southern Highlands, Yass, Tumbarumba, Oberon and Orange/Bathurst areas. A truffière has also been established in the ACT.
In Victoria, truffières have been established in areas including the Yarra Valley and the Gold fields region.
The winter of 2005 saw the first French truffles produced in NSW and Victoria. High quality truffles were produced in young truffières at Newbridge near Bathurst, central western NSW and near Yellingbo in the Yarra Valley, Victoria.