Truffle season looking a winner

Excellent weather, a growing market and new tourism opportunities are just some of the things which have growers excited about the upcoming truffle season. The South West is the biggest producer of black truffles in the southern hemisphere, with the delicacies in season from June to September. Manjimup’s Truffle Hill — previously the Truffle and Wine Company — head of sales Darian Cheffers, said he was expecting a strong season this year despite getting off to a late start. “I can’t speak for everyone else but the word is out on the street that it’s looking like it’s a very promising year this year,” he said. “The weather’s been really good — very conducive for growing stuff on trees and orchards — and the avocado season’s looking like it’s going to be amazing this year, but truffles are a little bit different. “We need a cold snap, cold temperatures and rain and a whole heap of other factors to bring on the ripening of the truffle, so this season is a bit later than normal. “Everything else has been brilliant, things are looking really promising for the season, but it’s just off to a later start.” Mr Cheffers said the growth of Australia’s truffle industry, which Manjimup typically accounts for 90 per cent of volume-wise, could soon see it surpass France as the truffle capital of the world. “There’s a whole heap of things that really contribute to Manjimup truffles being recognised globally as the best black truffles in the world,” he said. “Out of about five farms in Manjimup, that’s about the bulk of the WA volume which is a massive part of the Australian volume, and then you compare that to France for example, think about how they grow truffles — most of it is grown in native habitats, native forested bush and over the years with world wars and expanding community living, those kinds of environments are reducing. “So Australian truffle, within the next couple of years, is looking set to overtake France.” With the interest for truffles on the rise, Mr Cheffers urged more local chefs and restaurants to utilise the unique delicacy to promote the region. “It would be really nice to see all the Manjimup, Pemberton and Bridgetown restaurants really get behind the truffle industry because there are a lot of tourism people ... in tourism mode coming down to the area to experience truffles and to have truffle on the menu or to showcase a great variety of how truffle can be consumed is only going to benefit the local businesses,” he said. “There’s a strong, growing passion for Australian truffle in Australia and we’d love to see more and more consumers fall into that passionate category.” Manjimup’s truffles will be on full display at the upcoming Truffle Kerfuffle festival from June 25 to 27.