IRIS Tasmania: Fruit and nuts

Fruit

About 90 per cent of the fresh fruit produced in Tasmania is sold on the Australian domestic market. The remainder is sold overseas to Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Europe and the united States and Japan.

Tasmanian fruit is currently sold through the major supermarket chains as well as central markets in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Tasmania's freedom from fruit fly, GMO status and clean, green image are key advantages, together with climate and natural resources, making it an ideal situation to market fresh fruit to the world.

Pome fruit

The Tasmanian pome fruit industry primarily involves the production of apples, and a lesser volume of pears, for local, interstate, export and processing markets.

There are approximately 100 pome fruit holdings in the State.

The industry operates under sustained competition from domestic and international markets. In recent years it has been affected by lower grower returns due to strong competition from other fruits and greater exposure to global market developments. Since 1999 the total production has fluctuated between 37,000 and 62,000 tonnes and was expected to be 50,000-55,000 tonnes during a five year period from 2004. The gross market value is estimated at $45-50 million.

Further information is available on the pome fruit industry from the Department of Primary Industries and Water.

Apples

Apples are the most important fruit crop in Tasmania, accounting for 11% of the national crop and Australia's fifth largest producer. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, apple production was around 30,222 tonnes in 2008.

Tasmania is responsible for almost 65% of all Australian apple exports to overseas markets. Between 30 and 35 per cent of the total crop is exported overseas. The main markets are Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, with Japan being a developing market. Another 20 to 25 per cent is sold interstate (mainly Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne). A further 15 per cent of the crop is consumed in Tasmania with the remainder used for processing. The industry has a gross value of $60 million.

After a period of rationalisation the apple industry is undergoing expansion, with potential markets in Japan and China opening up.

Tasmania has cool winters, which are necessary for optimum chilling requirements and a long mild growing season from September to May, which offers ideal conditions for fruit development and ripening of a full range of apple varieties. The bulk of Tasmania's apples are grown in the Huon district. The remainder are produced in the Spreyton and Tamar districts.

The main varieties of apples grown in Tasmania during 2008 were Gala (30 per cent) and Fuji (17 per cent). In order of production volumes, the main varieties were Gala (22 per cent), Fuji (17 per cent), Golden Delicious (12 per cent) and Block Red Delicious (10 per cent).

The main varieties making up new tree plantings in 2008 were Gala and Cripps Pink ? sold under the trade mark name of 'Pink Lady'.

Pears

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2006-07 production of pears decreased in all states except Tasmania and South Australia. In 2008 pear production was reported as being around 960 tonnes. The cool storage capacity of Tasmanian apple and pear growers in 2006-07 was 42,600 tonnes. Tasmania's pear crop is less than 1 per cent of the total Australian crop (fresh and canning).

Tasmania's pear crop includes the following varieties: Packham, Beurre Basc, Winter Cole and Jospehine.

Stonefruit

This industry sector covers the production of apricots, cherries, peaches / nectarines and Duropean / Japanese plums. Production is focused on the fresh fruit market and takes advantage of Tasmania's late season of production (latest production season in Australia) and natural quarantine advantages, e.g. freedom from fruit fly.

Although relatively small by mainland standards, the Tasmanian industry is significant in terms of the fresh fruits market and export potential.

The Tasmanian stone fruit production season commences in early December with early maturing cherry varieties and peaks during january and February with the bulk of the Cherry and apricot harvest. Late peaches, nectarines and plums extend the season into March and early April.

Cherries and apricots are the main stone fruit crops grown in Tasmania. Except for apricots, stone fruits are grown commercially in most regions of the State including: Huon / Channel, south-east districts (including the Coal River Valley), Derwent Valley, Tamar Region, east coast and north-west coast. Apricot production is restricted to the south-east district and lower Derwent Valley region because of their particular climatic needs during flowering. Cherries are grown in all regions with the main production region occurring south of Hobart (Huon / Channel districts).

The strong investment in the cherry and stonefruit industry has largely been based on the potential of export markets. Exports have doubled since the 2006/07 season and the industry's target is to double exports again by 2009-2020.

Cherry production in the State is increasing rapidly (2,000 tonnes in 2006-07 to 4,000 tonnes in 2008-09), possibly making it the biggest cherry producing State in Australia. This production figure could increase to 7,000 tonnes by 2020-11. Major exports for cherries include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, Europe, India, Malaysia and the Middle East.

The apricot industry has also undergone considerable development. Significant market opportunities exist, both domestic and overseas, especially in Europe, the United States and the Middle East.

The Department of Primary Industries and Water has further nformation on the stonefruit industry.

Berry fruit

The principal berries grown commercially in Tasmania are strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and blueberries. The industry is still a minor player nationally, contributing a little over 2 per cent of Australia's total berry production.

Raspberries and strawberries comprise 60 per cent of the industry value.

Blackcurrants are the principal berry fruit grown for processing.

Blueberries and other brambles are the smaller contributors, although the potential for blueberry production has yet to be realised.

The majority of fresh berry fruit production is from 10 major producers. Other berry fruit production is part of diversified farming activities.

The major production areas are the Huon Valley, Derwent Valley, Tamar Valley and Deloraine districts. Most blackcurrant production is in the Derwent Valley and Huon Valley. Raspberries are grown in the Deloraine area, the Huon Valley and Derwent Valley. Production of strawberries and blueberries is widespread.

Further information on the berry fruit industry is available from the Department of Primary Industries and Water.

Grape growing

The Tasmanian wine industry focuses on high-quality, cool climate wines. More than 90 per cent of red wine grapes produced in 2007-08 were pinot noir. Chardonnay accounted for around 50 per cent of white wine grape production in 2007-08, followed by sauvignon blanc and riesling, both at around 20 per cent. According to the 2007 National Winegrape Crush and Price Report, grapes produced in Tasmania were ranked in the highest price category for these four major varieties. Wine grape production in Tasmania is forecast to continue to increase in 2009.

In 2007 there were 233 individual vineyards, yielding 5,039 tonnes from 1,200 grape-bearing hectares.

The grape-bearing area has more than tripled since the early 1990's due to the expansion of the wine industry, however in comparison to the rest of Australia it is still a small player, representing about 1 per cent. The State's total bearing area in 2008 was 1,315 hectares compared to 1,196 in 2007 and 999 hectares in 2006.

The wine producing egions of Tasmania are located in the North-west, Tamar Valley, North-east, East Coast, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley and the Huon / Channel area. The most significant region is the Tamar Valley, with a yield of 2,307 tonnes reported in 2007, followed by the North-east at 1,106 tonnes and the Coal River Valley at 1,003 tonnes.

Despite ongoing drought over much of Tasmania, the State's wine industry achieved a record-breaking 2008 vintage of more than 9,600 tonnes of wine grapes. Figures released in September 2008 show that the 2008 vintage was almost double last year's yield of 5,058 tonnes. Generous harvests experienced across all of Tasmania's key wine growing regions, where 162 licensed prodeucers operate 249 vineyards. The Tamar Valley was most productive, more than doubling its 2007 vintage of 2,307 tonnes with a 2008 yeld of 4,953 tonnes, or 51 per cent of the State's total. This was followed by the north-east of the State at 1,106 tonnes and the Coal River Valley at 1,003 tonnes.

A Winemaking Tasmania spokesman stated (April 2009) that with demand for Tasmanian wine outstripping supply, there is room for more growers in the market. A reduction in the 2009 wine grape harvest has highlighted this. Grape volumes are down by as much as half on the 2008 vintage, due to water shortages and a colder December. The forecast is for Tasmanian production to continue to grow over the next two years. The Tasmanian wine industry's selling point is quality over quantity.

The Department of Primary Industries and Water has comprehensive information on Tasmania's wine industry.

Nuts

In recent years, walnuts have become a new and viable industry able to meet some of the demand in Europe, especially Germany, for year-round walnuts. There is also a significant import replacement opportunity.

Webster Walnuts Tasmania organises the growing of this crop in Tasmania. The grower contracts include the sale or lease of trees to landholders, professional horticultural advice and a provision for the supply of nuts to Webster's marketing area. Webster encourage their growers to have flexibility in capital arrangements to promote establishment of walnut growing businesses of a horticulturally sustainable size and structure.

There are around 300 hectres of trees in the ground, with 30-50 growers involved. It takes 10 years for the trees to fully develop, however the work already done means that Tasmania will have the first mature, fully integrated and industrialised walnut production sector in the Southern Hemisphere.

Webster intend to concentrate at first on import replacement, but by the time the orchards are in full production the State will be able to take advantage of the European off-season.

Similarly structured enterprises should be possible for hazelnuts and chestnuts as the cihihn Tasmania is horticulturally suited to their production.

Tasmania

State of Success

Agricultural Supply - Fruit and Nut Industries

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