Agriculture - National Horticulture Industry Profiles - Beans and Peas
Beans and peas
Beans and peas are grown almost exclusively for domestic consumption in Australia. They represented about 2% of the gross value of horticulture in 1996/7. Green peas and French and runner beans are the main crops. Almost all green peas and about half of the French and runner beans are processed into frozen product. Similar areas of green peas and beans are grown, but beans are worth about twice the gross value of production.
Major producing areas
Tasmania and Queensland are the major production states. Green pea production has been scaled back in recent times due to a drop in demand, and to some extent the replacement of peas by other vegetables.
Total production of beans in 1997 was 37,609 tonnes. This was a significant increase on the previous five year production outputs. Production for the processing market was 51%. Production for the fresh market was 49% or 18380 tonnes.
French beans are available all year round while runner beans are available from February to March and from September to October. Total area of planted French and runner beans for the year to March 1997 was 7899 hectares. The value of bean production at farmgate was $39 m in 1996/97, an increase of $2.3 m or 6.2 % over 1995/96. The gross value of production for the same period was $41.4 m.
Crops produced
| Crop 1996/97 |
Area (ha) |
Production (t) |
Value ($m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad beans | 40 | 120 | 0.1 |
| French & runner beans (fresh) | 4 890 | 18 380 | 34.3 |
| French & runner beans (process) | 3 010 | 19 230 | 7.2 |
| French & runner beans (seed) | 30 | 170 | 1.7 |
| Green peas (fresh) | 580 | 1 380 | 2.6 |
| Green peas (process) | 8 740 | 42 210 | 15.5 |
| Green peas (seed) | 390 | 860 | 8.3 |
| Snow peas | 370 | 910 | 4.9 |
| Total | 18 040 | 83 260 | 74.6 |
 |
 |
Major production regions
| Region | Agro-ecological region | Area (ha) |
Production (t) |
Value ($m) |
% of total crop area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen, Qld | North-east wet/dry tropics | 2 200 | 9 300 | 15.3 | 12 |
| Northern Midlands, Tas | Temperate highlands/wet temperate coasts | 1 830 | 8 800 | 4.1 | 10 |
| Burnie-Devonport, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 1 340 | 9 000 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Meander Valley, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 1 150 | 5 800 | 3.4 | 6 |
| North West, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 1 040 | 6 600 | 3.0 | 6 |
| Southern Coast, WA | Temperate slopes & plains | 870 | 1 800 | 2.8 | 5 |
| Cooloola, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 680 | 3 300 | 5.8 | 4 |
| Central West, NSW | Temperate highlands/ | 560 | 2 000 | 0.9 | 3 |
| Beaudesert, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 550 | 2 000 | 1.8 | 3 |
| East Gippsland, Vic | Temperate highlands | 490 | 1 400 | 3.2 | 3 |
| North East, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 430 | 1 900 | 1.0 | 2 |
| Lockyer Valley, Qld | Subtropical slopes & plains/ | 420 | 2 000 | 1.9 | 2 |
 |
Production, production trends and exportsAustralian exports of French and runner beans declined in 1997/98. Export volumes were down 61 tonnes on the previous year. Import volume for 1997/98 amounted to 863 tonnes, with the majority coming from the USA. |
Industry contact
AusVeg: RMB 5307, Strathbogie, Victoria 3666; telephone: (03) 5790 5247
Production and value data sources
Horticultural Research and Development Corporation 2000, Horticultural Productivity and Sustainability Project
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996, AgStats 1996-97
National Land and Water Resources Audit 2000, non-agricultural land mask from 1:1 000 000 Landuse in Australia
Agriculture Fisheries Forestry - Australia 1996, Agro-ecological Regions of Australia
Before you download
Most publications are downloadable as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window