WA truffles to hit overseas markets

WA truffles to hit overseas markets
Truffles from south-west Western Australia will be sent overseas after the region's first established truffiere announced it is about to harvest a record crop.

The Hazel Hill truffiere was set up on a property near Manjimup several years ago to see if the delicacy could be grown in the south-west and develop a new industry for the region.

Truffles can fetch prices of up to $3,000 per kilogram.

Hazel Hill is expecting to dig up more than 400 kilograms of French black truffles this year and has lined up buyers from France, the United States, Japan and China.

Hazel Hill director Dr Nick Malajczuk says he is relieved the gamble has worked.

"Suddenly the truffles from the south-west of Western Australia are really hitting the market and we're probably a month earlier than the eastern states, so we're really in the restaurants a month earlier," he said.