Fruit Science Commons^™

Food, Fibre And Flowers, Fuelling The Economy With Innovation And Science, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The Department of Agriculture and Food is a world leader in the rapidly growing field of agri-food and fibre research and development, providing significant benefits for Westen Australian producers, the food industry sector and consumers.

The development of value-added products through innovation and science, which deliver real opportunities for the State's agri-food export capacity, is also important.

Seven examples of the Department's science and innovation.

Plan To Support Horticulture Industry Development 2009-2012, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The Plan to Support Horticulture Industry Development ('the Plan') recognises that healthy and profitable Western Australian agricultural industries are integral to the economic wellbeing of regional and rural communities. The Plan promotes a progressive and productive horticultural industry through efficient use of natural resources, high standards of biosecurity, modern marketing, value-adding and research to enhance continuous improvement throughout the supply chain from producer to consumer.

Plan To Support Horticulture Industry Development 2009 - 2012 - For Discussion, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The State Government's increased investment in agriculture and food recognises the integral contribution this sector makes to the economy of Western Australia.

It is a key industry which will support Western Australia's growth beyond periods of boom and through the economic rebuilding phase ahead. Ensuring the State remains highly competitive in both domestic and international markets is vital to the future of our economy

Public funds must be 'money well spent'. This means ensuring the right direction, efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Food's programs. The department must focus its efforts on economic development - this is …

Pomegranates - New Woolbelt Opportunities, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Horticulture published reports

The capture of fresh surface water has the potential to open up areas of the 'woolbelt' of Western Australia to intensive agricultural industries.

In 2005-06 the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) investigated surface run-off in the medium rainfall zone (500-825 mm) of south-western Australia. It aimed to identify areas with sufficient freshwater resources and suitable land for intensive production.

The scoping study, based on broad scale modelling and land-soil capability assessment, found that there was some potential to develop large reliable water supplies to support perennial horticulture.

Almonds Western Australia, Andrew Quinn, David Pocock

Horticulture published reports

The Almond industry 1s one of the less explored new industry options in Western Australia, despite offering one of the more significant opportunities for expansion and market development. Previous attempts to expand the industry have met with little progress primarily because of the small orchard areas planted, limited economies of scale, significant impact by birds and absence of a local processing plant.

Global Almond exports exceed US$1 billion per annum and are dominated by California. Almond products are traded in the international commodity market with prices primarily set by the USA.

Critical to the development of the industry in Western …

Western Australian Avocado Industry Survey - 2000, Alec Mccarthy

Horticulture research reports

Key components of the project: The avocado industry in Western Australia has been steadily growing over the past 15 years. During this time there has been no comprehensive survey of the industry to determine its size and production base. This survey aimed to collect information from as many commercial avocado growers as possible about tree numbers, age, yield, markets, growing methods and general industry knowledge.

Industry significance: This survey will provide comprehensive data on the avocado industry that will enable producers, packers, marketeers, investors, etc to have greater confidence in their various decision makings.

Key outcomes: Significant increases in annual …

A Strategic Marketing Analysis Of The Western Australian Olive Industry, Francis D'Emden

Horticulture published reports

A recent survey of Western Australian olive growers has revealed the rapid expansion of the State's Olive Industry, with at least 1.7 million olive trees to be planted in the next two to four years in Western Australia. NSW and SA are currently the dominant producers with around 64% of olive trees planted in those States.

This analysis concentrates on the olive oil market, as most groves have been planted to varieties suited to olive oil production. Approximately 4% of trees are table varieties, most of which have been planted amongst groves of predominantly oil or dual-purpose varieties.

Western Australia …

Commercial Irrigation And Nutrition Practices For Strawberries In Western Australia, D. Phillips, D. Gatter, T. Calder, D. Pitman

Horticulture research reports

Irrigation practices employed by five commercial strawberry growers on sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain near Perth Western Australia were monitored for two consecutive seasons, 1995 and 1996 during the Spring production period.

Nutritional practices for the same grower group plus one Albany grower were monitored by plant, soil and sap analysis at 14 day intervals throughout the 1996 season.

Irrigation records showed that market quality strawberries could be produced at this time of year (August to December in Perth) on soils with very poor water retention properties with an average crop factor(E Pan) for the season of 0.7 …

Mangoes At A Glance From Western Australia, Peter Johnson, Geraldine Pasqual

Horticulture published reports

Western Australia produces a range of horticultural commodities including fruit, vegetables, flowers, nursery products and wine as part of its fast growing $400 million horticultural industry. Natural advantages such as climate and clean environment, soils and water make Western Australia an ideal place to supply a variety of high quality produce to domestic and international markets.

Western Australia has a strong mango industry with production from well established crops estimated at $4.8 million. Industry members aim for a high level of customer satisfaction by offering popular varieties, quality and the ability to consistently supply markets.

Bulletin 4397 - Stone Fruit From Western Australia - At A Glance, Glynn Ward, Geraldine Pasqual, Eleanor Melvin-Carter

Bulletins 4000 -

Western Australia produces a range of horticultural commodities including fruit, vegetables, flowers, nursery products and wine as part of its fast growing $400 million horticultural industry. Natural advantages such as climate and clean environment, soils and water make Western Australia an ideal place to supply a variety of high quality produce to domestic and international markets.

The stone fruit industry in Western Australia is booming with large production increases predicted. Production from well established plum, peach and nectarine orchards in 1996/97 is estimated at $17 million and exports have doubled in the past five years to $10 million in 1998/99. …

An Evaluation Of Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Cultivars And Their Commercial Suitability For The Kimberley, P. R. Johnson, D. M. Robinson

Horticulture published reports

An evaluation of 74 mango cultivars was conducted from 1983 to 1995 in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) on Cockatoo sand. The aim to determine their suitability for commercial production and establish the basis for a mango industry in the Northern tropics of Western Australia. Measurements were made on yield, harvest times, flowering times, brix, fruit quality, growth rates and market acceptability. Results have indicated that cultivars, other than Kensington Pride, most commercially suitable in the ORIA are Banana for early cropping in mid September, Irwin for high regular yields and good market acceptability, Haden for excellent market acceptability, …

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.

A Bright Future For Export Plums, Ric Engel, Glynn Ward

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

Western Australia's stone fruit industry is relatively small by Australian and world standards owing to its small domestic market and past uncertainties with export. However, the industry is expanding to take advantage of growing markets in south-east Asia. It has adopted new production and marketing technology and is developing new varieties to meet the demand.

The future for our export plums has never been as promising as it is today. This is linked to fruit quality because markets are fickle and highly sensitive to poor quality fruit.

The introduction of a Quality Management Program in 199~91 helped the State develop …

Mango Exports From Western Australia, Peter Johnson, John Gallagher, Terry Hill

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

The Department of Agriculture has been at the forefront in developing a mango industry in Western Australia.

In Camarvon, the Department is concentrating on developing an export industry, while in the Ord River Irrigation Area trials have identified suitable domestic and export varieties for that environment.

The effect of planting density, hedging and pruning techniques on yield is being examined. Research has also started on identifying superior selections of the Kensington Pride variety, the most commercially important variety in Australia. The aim is to improve fruit quality, bearing reliability, and to extend the production season..

A Tale Of Two Ladies : Pink Lady And Sundowner, John Cripps, Eleanor Melvin-Carter

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

It is five years since the first Western Australianbred Pink Lady and Sundowner apples were sold on the local market. In that time, these crisp, sweet flavoursome apples have become top-selling, premium fruit.

The story is no different overseas. Trial shipments to London, Taiwan and Singapore have indicated a big demand for the unique Pink Lady apple - far more than Western Australia can presently supply.

One million fruiting Pink Lady apple trees are needed to meet anticipated export sales. Today, there are only 100,000 trees in the ground, of which about half are bearing fruit.

New high quality apple …

Development Of Redglobe Table Grapes For Export, Ian Cameron

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

Exports wereonce a major outlet for the Western Australian table grape industry.

Over the last 20 years however, exports have fallen from 500 to 00 tonnes per year, despite an increase in the area planted to table grapes and an increase on overseas demand for our produce.

By 1993 less than 3 per cent of the table grapes produced in the State were exported.

The introduction of Redglobe, a new table grape varietyy from California, is expected to increase the export of table grapes from Western Australia to 1000t by 1997, when the variety will represent 90 per cent of …

Bulletin No 4146 - Commercial Production Of Pawpaws In Western Australia, J. R. Burt, B. L. Toohill

Bulletins 4000 -

The papaw (Carica papaya L.) is a native plant of Central America. It produces its highest yields of good quality fruit in tropical regions.

The tree is short-lived and rarely produces crops for more than two or three years. It is quick growing and soon reaches a maximum height of 5 to 7 m. It is usually unbranched, but may branch after either injury to the top or cutting back.

Fruit In W.A., Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

The main fruit growing districts of Western Australia are in the Mediterranean climate areas of the south-west. Apples, pears, stonefruit, citrus and vines are grown on a commercial basis. Figs, mulberries and olives are also grown, but not in big commercial quantities.

The Banana Industry At Carnarvon, John Roger Burt

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

In viewing the semi-arid conditions of the West Gascoyne, visitors are surprised to see a thriving banana industry at the mouth of the Gascoyne River, 930 kilometres north of Perth. The natural vegetation in the plantation area consists mainly of stunted gums, low acacia scrub and salt bush.

Despite the adverse climatic conditions, the average yields of Carnarvon bananas are double those of banana areas in other states.

Stone Fruit Regulations, W J. Hart

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

Stone fruit grading regulations were introduced for the first time recently to keep small, green or badly blemished fruit off the market. This type of fruit is always in poor demand and can spoil the prices obtained for better lines of fruit by creating the impression of heavy supplies.

Guide To Presenting Grapes For Export, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Viticulture published reports

Leaflet V 11

To maintain our export markets for grapes, high standards are essential.

The following regulations and recommendations will assist growers in packing to standards acceptable to overseas buyers..

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.

Carton Packs For Granny Smith Apples, J S. Bloomfield

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

THE demand for bruise-free apples by overseas buyers has been mainly responsible for the development of fibre board cartons as export apple containers.

The Half Dump For Easier And Better Fruit Packing, J S. Bloomfield

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

ONE of the first cases used for the marketing of citrus fruit in Western Australia was the "flat bushel," which is similar in size to the "long bushel" used extensively for pears in Victoria.

In a bulletin on fruit packing and the marketing and exporting of fruit issued in 1915, the fiat box was illustrated and recommended as a suitable container for the local market.

This case was superseded by the "dump" case when the Harvey area came into production about the beginning of World War I.

Banana Packing And Waxing, J A F Lawson

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

IN 1955, representatives of the Carnarvon banana growers approached the North- West Branch of the Department of Agriculture with the suggestion that tests be made concerning the value of waxing bananas prior to consignment.

It was claimed at the time by the Director of Horticulture of the Queensland Department that, by means of wax dipping, bananas had been transported from Northern Queensland to Brisbane, ripened artificially, and then returned to Northern Queensland for sale in the middle of summer, whereas the undipped fruit arrived completely unsaleable.