You are here: ANRA home » Natural resource topics » Agriculture
This web site is no longer being updated
In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Agriculture - National Horticulture Industry Profiles - Berry Fruit
Berry fruit
Berry fruit production in Australia is dominated by the strawberry industry, which accounted for about 90% of the total berry fruit production value in 1996/97. At a gross value of $109 m in 1996/97, strawberry production constituted about 3% of the value of Australian horticulture. However, at just over 1% of world strawberry production and even less in terms of exports, Australia is a relatively small producer.
Major producing areas
Berry fruits prefer warm summers, cool to cold winters, and protection from wind.
Strawberries are produced in all States of Australia, providing year-round supply. Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia are the largest producers, accounting for 82% of total production in 1997/98.
Crops produced
Crop1996/97 |
Production (t) |
Value ($m) |
|---|---|---|
| Blackcurrants | 930 | 1.1 |
| Blueberries | 590 | 7.9 |
| Gooseberries | 10 | 0.1 |
| Loganberries | <10 | <0.1 |
| Raspberries | 360 | 3.3 |
| Strawberries | 26 600 | 109.0 |
| Total | 28 500 | 121.4 |
 |
 |
Major production regions
| Region | Agro-ecological region | Production (t) |
% of total crop area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast, Qld | Wet subtropical coast | 3 080 | 15 |
| Mid North Coast, NSW | Wet subtropical coast | 350 | 13 |
| Yarra Ranges, Vic | Wet temperate coasts | 2 120 | 11 |
| North West, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 180 | 3 |
| Derwent Valley, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 250 | 3 |
| Perth,WA | Wet temperate coasts | 880 | 3 |
| Huon Valley, Tas | Wet temperate coasts | 240 | 2 |
 |
Production, production trends and exportsStrawberry production peaked in 1995/96 at 34 000 tonnes before dropping back to just over 26 000 tonnes between 1996/97 and 1997/98. The reason for the fall was a disease incursion in the Queensland propagated runners, late plantings and wet weather, resulting in late starts to these seasons. Strawberry exports to Asia represented about 4% of total production—valued at $8.5 m—in 1998/99 and have fallen in recent times because of the Asian economic downturn. Hong Kong and Singapore have been the leading export markets by volume over the past five years, but the UK was the leading destination by value in 1998/99. Australia’s share of the UK market is less than 1%. |
Industry contacts
Strawberries Australia: 167 Collingwood Road, Birkdale, Queensland 4159; telephone: (07) 3207 4306
Australian Rubus Growers Association: telephone: (03) 5967 4231
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
Horticultural Research and Development Corporation, Australian Horticultural Corporation, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2000, Australian Horticulture in the Global Environment
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