Australia’s total production fell slightly amid challenging conditions, but buyer appetites were undimmed in 2019-2020, according to a new report.
Data released by horticulture sector peak body Hort Innovation shows demand for Australian fruit, vegetables and nuts was higher in the 2019-20 financial year, despite the impact of COVID-19.
According to the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2019/20, released today, more than $15 billion of fruit, nuts, vegetables, turf, cut flowers and nursery plants were produced in Australia last financial year.
While challenging seasonal conditions including drought and bushfires saw production volume fall 1.5 per cent, its value increased by 4.5 per cent, lifting from $14.4 billion to $15.1 billion.
Hort Innovation head of data and insights Adam Briggs says the growth shows that Australian consumers are still buying local produce, despite recent price increases.
“Nuts have performed extremely well again, having grown by $221 million, one-third of the total growth in horticulture value,” Briggs says.
“Almonds continued their expansion, with value growth of 14 per cent, while macadamias bounced back from a tough 2018/19 to experience value growth of 26 per cent.
“Apples have had two years of double-digit value growth (10 per cent and 13 per cent), despite two years of slight reductions in volume due to seasonal conditions,” he adds.
While the COVID-19 pandemic had presented challenges to horticulturalists across the country, particularly in disruption of supply chains, Briggs says the industry showed great resilience in its response.
“Some industries even experienced an increase in demand, such as turf which increased in value by 15 per cent from $243 million to $280 million,” he says.
“This can be attributed to COVID-19 with people turning to gardening and filling their homes with green life during lockdown.”
Featuring more than 470 pages of information drawn from several supply chain sources, including international trade statistics and industry peak bodies, the Handbook includes data on more than 70 horticultural products including fruit, nuts, vegetables, nursery, turf and cut flowers.
Check out the report at the Hort Innovation site here https://www.horticulture.com.au/