Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), Brandt's Fruit Trees (BFT) and Pink Lady America (PLA) have reached a commercial agreement to develop trade between the U.S. and Mexico and the broader global network of the apple brand.

The deal establishes APAL as the exclusive master licensee for trade to and from the U.S. and Mexico. It will also be the manager, administrator and licensor of all commercial activities to give effect to trade between the two countries and the Pink Lady network worldwide.

The agreement combines the interests, capability and capacity of the respective parties and provides an opportunity for the Pink Lady brand to expand, a release said.

Andrew Hooke, COO, and Phillip Turnbull, CEO of APAL. Lynnell Brandt, President, and Kevin Brandt, vice president of Pink Lady America.

Lynnell Brandt, president and founder of Brandt's Fruit Trees and president of Pink Lady America, said: "We are very excited as to this opportunity to more effectively build the brand globally by working together.

"This will be beneficial to all stakeholders in the chain of offering Pink Lady brand apples to the consumers everywhere possible".

Phil Turnbull, the CEO of APAL said: "This agreement aligns our commercial goals for the benefit of the entire Pink Lady network and lays the foundations for future success with a framework that provides clarity for market development and brand growth".

The agreement gives strength to the total Pink Lady network by "completing a fully integrated and linked global network", the release said.

Andrew Hooke, COO of APAL said: "This is is a very exciting and significant step for our respective organisations and for the broader Pink Lady global network. This brings about alignment across the globe and wonderful commercial opportunities for all concerned".

Melbourne-based APAL is the owner of the Pink Lady brand outside of the U.S. and Mexico and currently licenses over three hundred exporters worldwide and manages its trademarks and licensing business in over ninety countries.

Brandt's Fruit Trees has been a leading grower, marketer and packer of fruit and fruit trees in the U.S. for over eighty years and is the owner of the Pink Lady trademark in the U.S. and Mexico.

Pink Lady America is the organisation established and exclusively licensed by Brandt's Fruit Trees to manage and market Pink Lady branded apples in the U.S. and Mexico.