Life Sciences Commons^™

Production And Marketing Of Vegetables And Fruit, John Burt

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Vegetable and fruit production in Western Australia is a diverse, high value industry. Up to 75 different crops are grown from Kununurra in the north to Albany on the south coast.

Our horticultural industries were worth $238,127,000 in 1990-.91, which represented 18 per cent of all crops produced in Western Australia.

Markets for horticultural produce are volatile. For most lines, produce has been well supplied for the past four years, owing to an increasing area of production, higher yields, improved postharvest technology and reduced consumer demand in the recent recession.

Export Of Rockmelons From The Ord River, John Bonnardeaux

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Ord River Irrigation Area and Carnarvon are the main production areas for cucurbits in northern Western Australia. Cucurbits are also grown in Derby, Broome and around Lagrange, south of Broome.

The area planted to rockmelons in the Ord River Irrigation Area has increased from 20 ha in 1980 to 425 ha in 1992.

Rockmelon production, the most important horticultural industry in the Ord River Irrigation Area, is worth about $9 million. It accounts for about 25 per cent of the Ord's dry season value of production

The Export Carrot Industry, Angie Galati, Allan Mckay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Carrots are the single most important horticultural export commodity from Western Australia.

In 1991-92, over 23,000 tonnes of carrots worth more than $12 million (fob) were exported. The State now exports about 70 per cent of its carrot production to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Middle East (see Table 1). These exports account for more than 90 per cent of Australian carrot exports. The State's carrot exports started in the mid 1970s. In 1977-78, only 2170 tofcarrots were exported, but exports have increased steadily since then (see Figure 1).

Export Of Asparagus From The Ord River, John Bonnardeaux, Chris Robinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Fresh asparagus is presently supplied to Australian markets from August to March from temperate regions. For the remainder of the year, there is no significant production of fresh spears in Australia.

Recent research in Taiwan, Zambia and Zimbabwe has indicated quality asparagus can be grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The harvest period can be manipulated by withholding irrigation water and cutting fems to make spears grow out-of-season.

Local Marketing Of Citrus Fruits, K T. Whitely

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

CITRUS fruits are always popular on the local market but recently supplies from South Australia have made the market a very competitive one.

The situation demands the marketing of high quality citrus from growers in Western Australia.

The need to harvest the bulk of the Navel orange crop over a rather limited period and the resultant tendency for oversupply during that time also necessitates high standards of presentation to maintain firm prices.

King Size Onions Not Wanted On The Local Market, M Hardie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WESTERN AUSTRALIA produced 3,500 tons of onions in 1955 and 7,000 tons in 1964. This 100 per cent, increase was achieved with only a 39 per cent, increase in acreage, so that crops produced much higher yields.

Preparation Of Vegetables For Market, James P. Fallon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

PROFITS in commercial vegetable growing depend as much on proper harvesting, handling and marketing as on good production practices.

Many gardeners who are experts as producers are perhaps not so expert in presenting their produce in a manner which will command the most favourable return.

The Granny Smith, Frank Melville

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MOST of the commercial apples grown throughout the world today have originated as chance seedlings and commercialised by observant nurserymen or fruit growers.

Many Tasmanian varieties were established this way—the Sturma, Democrat and Crofton.

But the seedling which has had the greatest impact on apple growing in Australia is the Granny Smith and its rise to fame is an interesting story.