- The Queen Garnet plum website crashed due to a surge of national interest after Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth featured the Australian superfruit in his health and wellness series Azza & Zoc Do Earth.
- The Queen Garnet was developed from 1997 by Queensland Government plant scientists through traditional, non-GMO cross-breeding, and contains approximately six times the antioxidants of blueberries and twenty times those of conventional plums.
- Ongoing independent research at four Australian universities has highlighted potential benefits for brain health, cognitive ageing, gut health, and metabolic health, with one study finding Queen Garnet juice reversed obesity in rats fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.
- Researchers have identified a gut–brain connection, whereby the plum's anthocyanins are converted into brain-active compounds by the gut microbiome, with early pilot trials reporting promising findings on human cognition.
- Nutrafruit Chair Bonney Ghosh attributed the extraordinary public response to a combination of homegrown innovation, natural wellness appeal, and the growing body of scientific evidence underpinning the Queen Garnet's nutritional profile.
Queen Garnet website crashes under extraordinary wave of national interest in the Australian superfruit decades in the making
The Queen Garnet plum website was knocked offline by an extraordinary wave of national interest, as Australians rushed to learn more about the homegrown superfruit Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth recently put on the global map.
The surge followed an interview with Nutrafruit Chair Bonney Ghosh on Ben Fordham’s 2GB program, during which it was revealed that Chris Hemsworth became aware of the growing body of research surrounding the Queen Garnet while developing Azza & Zoc Do Earth, a series exploring health and wellness discoveries from around the world.
Hemsworth chose to make the Australian-grown plum the focus of the season finale episode, sparking enquiries from every state and territory — Perth to Cairns, Hobart to Darwin.
The queengarnet.com website is now fully back online — and the plum that has been called everything from a “miracle fruit” to the “Ozempic plum” is, quite literally, the talk of the country.
Bonney Ghosh, Chair of Nutrafruit — which holds the rights to distribute and market the Queen Garnet on behalf of the Queensland Government — said the response had been remarkable.
“We’ve long known the Queen Garnet was something special, with more than 15 years of scientific research helping uncover its unique nutritional profile and wellness potential,” Mr Ghosh said.
“The Chris Hemsworth feature undoubtedly brought enormous attention to the story, but what’s really resonated with Australians is the combination of homegrown innovation, natural wellness, and the genuine science behind the Queen Garnet.”
WHAT THE RESEARCHERS ARE SAYING
The Queen Garnet was bred from 1997 by Queensland Government plant scientists through traditional, non-GMO cross-breeding. It contains around six times the antioxidants of blueberries and twenty times that of conventional plums, and is now the subject of independent research at four leading Australian universities. Recent findings include:
- Brain health — Dr Michael Netzel (QAAFI, University of Queensland) has reported “promising initial findings on human cognition and other health benefits” from pilot trials with the Queen Garnet. (UQ News, April 2025)
- The gut–brain bridge — Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa (QAAFI, University of Queensland) has explained how “the magic happens in the colon”, where the plum’s anthocyanins are converted into brain-active compounds by the gut microbiome. (FreshPlaza, April 2025)
- Cognitive ageing — Professor Michael Mathai (Victoria University) has suggested that Queen Garnet extract may have potential for “people with early-stage dementia or perhaps mild cognitive impairment”. (Horticulturetrade, April 2025)
- Metabolic health — A landmark study led by Professor Lindsay Brown (University of Southern Queensland) found Queen Garnet juice reversed obesity in rats fed a high-fat, high-carb diet — opening the door for further investigation in humans. (Heal with Food)
Mr Ghosh said the surge in demand had centred on the brand’s consumer range.
“Our website simply couldn’t cope with the flood of people looking for the Nectar and Powder products made from the Queen Garnet,” Mr Ghosh said.
“Australians have spoken loud and clear. They’re actively looking for natural wellness foods backed by real science — and they’re excited to discover something this unique is homegrown.”
ENDS
A grab of Nutrafruit Chair Bonney Ghosh discussing the Queen Garnet and the national response is available on request for radio and broadcast use.
About us:
Nutrafruit is an Australian agrifood innovator that holds the exclusive rights to distribute and market the Queen Garnet plum on behalf of the Queensland Government. The Queen Garnet is a unique antioxidant-rich variety bred by Queensland Government plant scientists from 1997 through traditional, non-GMO cross-breeding. It is grown exclusively by licensed Australian farmers and is the subject of independent peer-reviewed research at leading Australian universities, with studies exploring its role in heart, gut, brain and metabolic health.
Nutrafruit produces premium consumer products built around the Queen Garnet — including Queen Garnet Nectar, a year-round whole-fruit nectar, and its sister brand PurQ, a functional wellness range of plum-powered powders.
queengarnet.com · purq.com.au
Contact details:
Ashleigh Cox
0413 911 934
