National Horticultural Research Network - Horticulture Industry ...

National Horticultural Research Network
Vegetable Sector RD&E Framework September 2010
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2. Vegetable Industry. Situation and Outlook
The industries covered by the vegetable sector can be grouped as follows:
Leafy and Asian vegetables
Major Brassica vegetables
Cucurbit vegetables including melons
Tomato and capsicum
Sweet corn, asparagus, beans and peas
Fresh and processing potatoes
Carrots and onions
Protected cropping
ABS data (Cat7503.0, 2007/08) give the value of vegetable production in Australia and the various
states as follows
2008/09 NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT Total
$million 423 763 995 584 345 236 15 3,363
2.1 Situation and Outlook
2.1.1 Leafy and Asian Vegetables
Table 8: Production data for Leafy and Asian vegetables
Crop/year NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT Total
Lettuce 64,793 91,495 84,742 12,473 16,199 1,388 161 271,251
2007 (t)
Lettuce 27,188 32,970 52,552 6,234 14,136 1,923 12 135,015
2002(t)
Celery 174 35,828 7,119 275 4,545 600 - 48,542
2007 (t)
Celery - 29,532 10,502 2,960 5,096 222 - 48,493
2002 (t)
Asian 6,200 5,800 3800 - 1900 100 - 18,000
Leafy
2007(t)
Shallots 500 1,500 3,300 500 2,000 - - 7,800
2007 (t)
Note: Figures in bold are for the dominant production States.
2.1.1.1 Production and Locations - Leafy and Asian Vegetables
Table 8 shows the production by State of Leafy and Asian vegetables for 2002 and 2007. The group is
dominated by lettuce, comprising 78% of total production in 2007, followed by celery with 14%.
Lettuce: National production increased in the period, with significant increases in all states except
WA. In the same period, the value of the industry more than doubled to $284 m. The major producers
are Vic (33%) and Qld (31%), followed by NSW with 24% of production.
Celery: National production was static but the crop value increased to $42 million (see industry plan).
The major producer is Vic with 74% of the national crop.
Asian Leafy: Production increased from 2002 to 2007 with little increase in the number of growers.
The value of the industry increased more than 7-fold to $77 million. The major producing States are
NSW (34%) and Vic (32%). Data are from the industry Situation Report.
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