Australian cabbage growers could be influenced to grow different varieties based on the wide range of consumer tastes on the market.
“People of different nationalities want different things,” Michael Vella of M&R Fresh Veggies says.
“But there are some people that are buying a mix of varieties, like Chinese cabbage – on Wombok – you find a lot of people are using it now.”
Mr Vella grows some cabbage on his farm in the Hawkesbury Valley area of New South Wales, but it is secondary to his major crops of spinach, lettuce and capsicum.
He says other growers he knows produce a lot more cabbage to meet the demands of major supplies, but it does vary.
“Some people grow heaps of it – it depends on the market and who they supply – but I know some people can grow up to 30-40 acres,” he says, noting that prices can also change.
“Pricing has been the same for a long time, but it can change depending on the weather or the season, or any number of other factors.”
So far he says this season has been good for cabbages, although heat and rain can sometimes be a challenge.
“It’s a pretty hardy plant. Chinese cabbage is a bit harder to grow but overall it’s been pretty good."
“It’s a pretty hardy plant. Chinese cabbage is a bit harder to grow but overall it’s been pretty good.”
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that Australia produced 75,592 tonnes of cabbage in 2013-2014, with a gross value of $57.03 million. The estimated local price per cabbage is $0.56 per kilogram and there were 272 growers at the time of the data collection.
AUSVEG spokesperson Shaun Lindhe says the versatility of cabbages makes it possible for growers throughout Australia to produce them for export and domestic markets.
“Cabbage can be grown in a wide range of soils and in a variety of conditions, meaning it can be grown in many Australian growing regions. Australia exported $1.53 million of cabbage in 2013-14, with the largest export markets being Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong,” he says.
“We do not have information regarding the different varieties of cabbage or the current market demand. However, the latest data from Project Harvest consumer research, which is commissioned by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government, indicates that Australian consumers are buying cabbage an average of 3.5 times per month, which is higher than research undertaken in 2014.”
