7111.0.55.002 - Agricultural Survey: Apples and Pears, Australia, Preliminary, 2001-02  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/11/2002   
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Preliminary estimates show the total number of apple trees decreased by 3% to 9.9 million in 2001-02. Decreases in tree numbers were reported in all states except Victoria, the main growing state. The total number of trees reported in Victoria increased by 4% to 3.3 million, whereas in New South Wales, the next largest growing state, there was a decrease of 3% in the reported total to 2.0 million.

The total production of apples increased marginally from the previous year to 325,000 tonnes in 2001-02. Poor conditions in much of Victoria, the largest producing state, saw a 7% decrease in apple production, down to 101,000 tonnes. However, more favourable conditions in New South Wales, the next largest producing state, saw a significant increase in apple production, up 23% to 72,100 tonnes.

Preliminary estimates show the total number of pear trees decreased by 9% to 1.9 million in 2001-02. Decreases were reported in all states except Queensland and Tasmania, which were not major growing states. The largest producing state, Victoria, recorded an 8% decrease in the total number of pear trees, down to 1.5 million.

The total production of pears decreased by 14% from the previous year to 148,000 tonnes in 2001-02. The largest producing state, Victoria, recorded a 15% decrease in production to 129,000 tonnes. The next largest producing state, Western Australia, recorded a 19% decrease in production to 9,700 tonnes.

Table 1: Apples (a)

Australia
2002p
2000
2001
2002p
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
NUMBER OF TREES (b) ('000)
Trees under 1 year
467.5
605.6
326.6
86.8
89.3
27.3
39.2
23.3
60.9
n.c.
-
Trees 1 to 3 years
n.c.
n.c.
1,843.2
334.4
730.2
139.9
212.8
165.3
260.5
n.c.
-
Trees 4 years and over
n.c.
n.c.
7,745.9
1,572.1
2,521.2
715.9
837.0
870.9
1,226.6
n.c.
2.1
Total number of trees
9,660.0
10,203.1
9,915.8
1,993.2
3,340.6
883.1
1,089.0
1,059.4
1,548.1
n.c.
2.4
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Total production
319.7
324.6
325.3
72.1
101.3
28.5
23.2
47.7
52.4
n.c.
0.1
Yield (kg/tree) (c)
52.3
50.3
42.0
45.9
40.2
39.8
27.8
54.7
42.7
n.c.
40.8
- = 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) Age categories have been revised in 2001-02 in line with industry requirements. Previous splits were for trees under 1 year, trees 1 to 5 years and trees 6 years and over. (c) Yield represents the quantity of fruit produced per tree of bearing age, i.e. 4 years and over. For 2000 and 2001 the yield is based on a bearing age of 6 years and over.

Table 2: Pears (a)
Australia
2002p
2000
2001
2002p
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Trees under 1 year
30.1
85.0
37.3
2.0
14.9
8.6
2.6
2.6
6.5
n.c.
-
Trees 1 to 5 years
190.5
224.2
262.3
5.3
172.3
2.8
16.4
63.6
1.9
n.c.
-
Trees 6 years and over
1,647.4
1,785.4
1,616.4
33.5
1,320.8
15.3
87.0
139.8
20.0
n.c.
-
Total number of trees
1,868.0
2,094.6
1,916.0
40.8
1,508.0
26.7
106.0
206.1
28.4
n.c.
-
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Total production
159.4
173.2
148.2
1.3
129.3
0.9
6.2
9.7
0.7
n.c.
-
Yield (kg/tree) (b)
96.8
97.0
91.7
40.1
97.9
59.6
71.3
69.1
36.3
n.c.
87.3
- = 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.