7121.0.55.002 - Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/03/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

Agricultural Survey: Apples and Pears, Australia, Final, 2002-03

Apples

Final estimates for 2002-03 show the number of apple trees was little changed from the previous year at 10.2 million. Decreases in tree numbers were reported in the two main growing states: New South Wales and Victoria. The total number of trees reported in New South Wales decreased by 14% to 1.9 million, while in Victoria, the largest growing state, numbers decreased by 2% to 3.3 million. These falls were offset by increases in South Australia, up by 23% to 1.4 million trees, Queensland, up by 13% to 1.0 million trees and Tasmania, up by 2% to 1.6 million trees.

The production of apples in 2002-03 increased by 2% from the previous year to 326,100 tonnes. Conditions for growers varied significantly between states. Victoria reported an increase in apple production of 18% to 117,700 tonnes, with increased average yields offsetting slightly lower tree numbers. South Australia reported an increase in apple production of 26% to 30,100 tonnes, with some growers recording very good crops. However, less favourable conditions in New South Wales saw a 13% decrease in apple production, down to 62,200 tonnes.

The four most common varieties of apples produced in Australia in 2002-03 were:

  • Granny Smith (77,000 tonnes)
  • Cripps Pink (Pink Lady TM) (48,200 tonnes)
  • Delicious - Striped Red (39,900 tonnes)
  • Gala (34,900 tonnes)


Pears

Final estimates for 2002-03 show the number of pear trees increased by 11% to 2.0 million. The increase was driven by the largest producing state, Victoria, which recorded a 15% increase in the number of pear trees, up to 1.6 million.

The production of pears decreased by 5% from the previous year to 139,700 tonnes in 2002-03. This was mainly due to lower yields in Victoria.

The four most common varieties of pears produced in Australia in 2002-03 were:
  • WBC (incl. Williams/Duchess/Bartlett) (66,600 tonnes)
  • Packham (52,900 tonnes)
  • Beurre Bosc (9,600 tonnes)
  • Nashi (3,800 tonnes)


Apples and Pears sent for processing

The quantity of apples sent for processing in 2002-03 rose by 23% from the previous year to 70,600 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest quantity of apples sent for processing with 29,000 tonnes followed by New South Wales with 18,300 tonnes.

The quantity of pears sent for processing in 2002-03 decreased by 10% from the previous year to 54,800 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest quantity of pears sent for processing by far with 52,100 tonnes.


Cool storage capacity

The cool storage capacity of apple and pear growers in 2002-03 rose by 2% from the previous year to 286,900 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest capacity at 140,600 tonnes followed by New South Wales at 44,700 tonnes.


Table 1: Apples(a)
Australia
2003
2001
2002
2003
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total number of trees
10,203.1
10,202.9
10,210.8
1,932.6
3,275.8
1,028.4
1,361.8
1,025.8
1,582.4
n.c.
4.0
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Bonza
5.5
4.5
3.5
2.9
0.3
-
0.2
-
0.1
n.c.
-
Braeburn
4.2
5.8
5.2
2.6
0.1
0.1
0.3
-
2.0
n.c.
-
Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)
38.3
43.1
48.2
4.0
22.7
2.4
4.9
11.6
2.7
n.c.
-
Cripps Red (Sundowner)
7.4
10.5
12.7
0.8
5.8
0.3
1.3
2.9
1.6
n.c.
-
Delicious - Golden
25.1
23.1
24.0
0.6
11.3
1.1
2.9
1.4
6.7
n.c.
-
Delicious - Block Red
n.c.
29.9
28.3
10.3
7.4
0.4
2.6
0.4
7.2
n.c.
-
Delicious - Striped Red
n.c.
42.8
39.9
15.6
2.8
6.9
1.8
2.6
10.2
n.c.
-
Fuji
22.8
21.9
26.9
6.3
6.4
0.7
3.8
2.0
7.7
n.c.
-
Gala
30.4
33.7
34.9
7.5
9.0
4.3
4.6
5.0
4.5
n.c.
-
Granny Smith
76.6
70.1
77.0
10.3
42.8
6.8
4.7
10.7
1.6
n.c.
-
Jonagold
3.9
5.7
5.5
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.1
-
4.3
n.c.
-
Jonathan
8.5
7.4
6.1
0.6
2.2
0.6
2.0
0.3
0.3
n.c.
-
Lady Williams
7.6
6.7
6.9
0.2
4.4
0.1
0.6
1.6
-
n.c.
-
All other apples
94.3
15.2
7.0
0.3
2.3
0.5
0.3
0.2
3.5
n.c.
-
Total production
324.6
320.5
326.1
62.2
117.7
24.6
30.1
38.9
52.5
n.c.
0.1
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
50.3
39.7
38.9
37.2
44.5
27.9
29.6
43.8
40.9
n.c.
23.3
- = zero or rounded to zero
n.c. = not collected
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
(b) Yield represents the quantity of fruit produced per tree of bearing age, i.e. 4 years and over. For 2001, the yield is based on a bearing age of 6 years and over.


Table 2: Pears (including nashi)(a)
Australia
2003
2001
2002
2003
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total number of trees
2,094.6
1,827.0
2,022.3
35.1
1,628.5
32.0
102.5
197.5
26.5
n.c.
0.2
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Beurre Bosc
10.4
10.6
9.6
0.3
7.8
0.2
0.5
0.5
0.4
n.c.
-
Corella
0.5
0.7
0.6
-
0.4
-
0.2
-
-
n.c.
-
Josephine
3.2
3.1
2.8
-
2.3
-
0.1
0.2
0.1
n.c.
-
Nashi
4.3
2.6
3.8
0.1
3.1
-
0.4
0.2
-
n.c.
-
Packham
70.1
55.1
52.9
0.4
43.0
0.4
1.9
7.1
0.1
n.c.
-
Red Anjou
0.2
0.3
0.3
-
0.1
-
0.1
-
-
n.c.
-
Sensation
0.7
0.6
0.7
-
0.4
-
0.1
0.1
-
n.c.
-
WBC
81.0
71.7
66.6
-
63.8
0.1
1.9
0.8
-
n.c.
-
All other pears
2.7
2.8
2.5
0.1
1.3
-
0.5
0.4
0.2
n.c.
-
Total production
173.2
147.5
139.7
0.8
122.2
0.7
5.8
9.4
0.8
n.c.
-
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
97.0
96.3
83.8
27.1
88.7
34.9
68.2
69.3
44.0
n.c.
48.3
- = zero or rounded to zero
n.c. = not collected
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
(b) Yield represents the quantity of fruit produced per tree of bearing age, i.e. 6 years and over.


Table 3: Apples and Pears sent for processing(a)
Australia
2003
2001
2002
2003
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
('000 t)
Apples
61.9
57.4
70.6
18.3
29.0
5.2
3.2
5.8
9.0
n.c.
-
Pears
74.0
r61.1
54.8
0.1
52.1
0.1
0.4
2.0
0.1
n.c.
-
Total
135.9
r118.4
125.4
18.4
81.1
5.3
3.6
7.8
9.1
n.c.
-
r = revised
- = zero or rounded to zero
n.c. = not collected
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Table 4: Cool storage capacity(a)
Australia
2003
2001
2002
2003
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
('000 t)
Controlled atmosphere storage
n.c.
196.6
199.6
35.2
100.0
12.2
15.5
19.4
17.2
n.c.
-
Other cool storage
n.c.
84.4
87.3
9.5
40.5
4.3
5.3
7.5
20.2
n.c.
-
Total
n.c.
280.9
286.9
44.7
140.6
16.6
20.8
26.9
37.4
n.c.
-
- = zero or rounded to zero
n.c. = not collected
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.


EXPLANATORY NOTES

Introduction

1 This electronic publication contains final estimates of apples and pears data for the 2003 season, and comparative data for earlier years. The collection gathers information on apple and pear tree numbers and production levels by variety and age category. Details of processing production and 'on farm' storage capacity area are also sought.


Scope and coverage

2 Estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from the Apples and Pears collection. This is now conducted as a separate collection that complements the Agricultural Census/Survey. The questionnaire is sent to all respondents reporting apple and/or pear trees in the Agricultural Survey or who have been previously flagged on the ABS Business Register as apple or pear (including nashi) growers.

3 The scope of the collection is all establishments that undertake apple and pear growing regardless of the relative size of their estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO).

4 As far as possible, consistent data item definitions are used between repeats of this collection. However, statistics from the Apples and Pears collection are related to, but are not comparable with those collected in the Agricultural Census/Survey, due to the difference in the scope of the collections.


General

5 The estimates for 2001 and 2002 shown in this publication have been revised where necessary.

6 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.


ABS data available on request

7 As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, the ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to either Gordon Cameron on Hobart 03 6222 5939 or the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.


General acknowledgment

8 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated. Without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.


Related publications

9 A range of agricultural publications is produced by the ABS, including:

Principal Agricultural Commodities, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 7111.0)

Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0)

Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0)

10 Estimates of production from the Apples and Pears collection are used to derive value of agricultural commodities produced (VACP) data. Related statistics can be found in the following publications:

Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia Preliminary (cat. no. 7501.0)

Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0)

11 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products, Australia (cat. no. 1101.0). The Catalogue is available from any ABS office or the ABS web site. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.