Tasmania’s agri-food production grew by 5.9 per cent in 2015-16, to a gross value of $2.4billion, with strong performances from the fruit and vegetable sectors.
In a year of challenging seasonal conditions and weakness in some important commodity markets, the annual Tasmanian Agri-Food ScoreCard showed record overseas food exports worth $686million, which is an increase of 12.2 per cent.
High yields of fruit were achieved, thanks to favourable seasonal conditions, with the gross farm gate value increasing by 74 per cent to $170million.
Cherries doubled in volume and value $64 million on the back of strong exports, which also almost doubled to $50million. It was the major fruit supplied internationally from Tasmania. Fruit was sent to 26 countries with a total value of $53million. China was the top destination recording a value of $15million, with Hong Kong at $12million and Taiwan at $10million.
Berries continued to expand, with plantings tripling over a five year period resulting in production of 5,224 tonnes in 2015-16 with a farm gate value of $64 million. Raspberries and blackberries accounted for 48.2 per cent of value.
Apples reversed a decades-long decline in production, increasing in value by 28 per cent to $46million, with volumes increasing by 19 per cent. Expansion was boosted by growth in cider production.
Nuts were the only commodity to record a drop in volume, but its farm gate value was $5million. Walnuts accounted for most of the value with hazelnuts the remainder.
It was a different story for vegetables with challenging seasonal conditions resulting in a 12.4 per cent decline in the value of vegetables to $217million, with decreases to production volumes of many crops. Produce was sent to 32 countries with a value of $25million. Belgium was the top destination, valued at $8million, with exports to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates each worth $2million. Tasmanian mostly supplies its vegetables interstate, which accounts for 76.6 per cent of processed production.
Potatoes remained the highest earner, holding almost half of the vegetable farm gate gross value at $106million, despite a decrease to both volume and value.
Onions increased in value, by one per cent, to $39million, despite a drop in volume of almost 21 per cent. It remains the top international vegetable export worth $18million, with the main destination being Belgium.
Carrots also increased in value, to $19million, which was helped by exports almost doubling to $6.7 million in 2015-16, from $3.6 million the previous year.
Tasmania is a major national producer of frozen vegetables two processing plants for frozen potato chips and a third for frozen vegetables, mainly peas and beans.
The Tasmanian Agri-Food ScoreCard has been produced since 2004 and provides extensive data on the state’s agricultural sector and food production.
To view the full report, visit this website: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/agriculture/facts-figures/industry-scorecards
