7121.0.55.002 - Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, 2005-06  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/12/2006   
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Agricultural Survey: Apples and Pears, Australia, Final, 2005-06

Apples

Final estimates for 2005-06 show the number of apple trees decreased by 5.6% from the previous year to 10.2 million with decreases reported in all states. The total number of trees reported in New South Wales decreased by 7.3% to 1.9 million while in Victoria, the main growing state, they fell by 6.8% to 3.5 million.

The production of apples in 2005-06 decreased by 15.4% from the previous year to 276,400 tonnes, with decreases reported in all states except Western Australia. Victoria, the main producing state, reported a decrease in apple production of 15.2% to 103,700 tonnes, New South Wales reported a decrease of 18.6% to 52,200 tonnes and Tasmania reported a decrease of 28% to 32,800 tonnes.

The four most common varieties of apples produced in Australia in 2005-06 were:

    • Granny Smith (58,900 tonnes)
    • Cripps Pink (Pink Lady) (56,500 tonnes)
    • Gala (37,500 tonnes)
    • Fuji (22,600 tonnes)


Pears

Final estimates for 2005-06 show the number of pear trees decreased by 2.9% from the previous year to 2.1 million. This was mostly due to a decrease in tree numbers of 2.3% in Victoria, which was by far the largest pear grower with 1.7 million trees. There were also decreases in tree numbers in all other states, except Queensland.

The production of pears decreased by 6% from the previous year to 142,400 tonnes in 2005-06. Decreases in production were reported in all states except Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

The four most common varieties of pears produced in Australia in 2005-06 were:
  • WBC (including Williams/Duchess/Bartlett) (67,200 tonnes)
  • Packham (55,200 tonnes)
  • Beurre Bosc (9,400 tonnes)
  • Nashi (3,400 tonnes)


Apples and Pears sent for processing

The quantity of apples sent for processing in 2005-06 decreased by 26.5% to 45,100 tonnes. Victoria and New South Wales recorded the largest quantity of apples sent for processing, with 13,700 tonnes and 13,600 tonnes respectively.

The quantity of pears sent for processing in 2005-06 decreased by 18.4% to 50,200 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest quantity of pears sent for processing with 47,900 tonnes.


Cool storage capacity

The cool storage capacity of apple and pear growers in 2005-06 fell by 6.6% from the previous year to 290,100 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest capacity with 136,400 tonnes followed by New South Wales with 45,900 tonnes and Tasmania with 42,900 tonnes.

(State data are available on request.)

Table 1: Apples(a)
Australia
2004
2005
2006
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
10,603.1
10,766.8
10,159.6
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Bonza
3.2
2.8
2.1
Braeburn
3.4
3.8
2.7
Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)
47.4
61.1
56.5
Cripps Red (Sundowner)
14.3
20.4
18.1
Delicious - Golden
17.3
24.9
16.2
Delicious - Block Red
24.0
24.7
21.0
Delicious - Striped Red
27.4
30.9
21.9
Fuji
17.9
30.1
22.6
Gala
29.6
38.1
37.5
Granny Smith
55.5
66.3
58.9
Jonagold
5.3
5.9
5.1
Jonathan
4.3
5.6
4.0
Lady Williams
4.9
6.9
5.6
All other apples
5.5
5.1
4.2
Total production
260.0
326.6
276.4
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
28.9
35.6
31.3
(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.


Table 2: Pears (including nashi)(a)
Australia
2004
2005
2006
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
2,058.6
2,131.3
2,069.1
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Beurre Bosc
10.5
10.3
9.4
Corella
0.7
1.2
1.5
Josephine
3.3
3.4
3.1
Nashi
3.5
3.8
3.4
Packham
53.3
60.7
55.2
Red Anjou
0.4
0.4
0.4
Sensation
0.7
0.6
0.7
WBC
67.5
68.8
67.2
All other pears
2.2
2.4
1.8
Total production
142.1
151.4
142.4
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
82.4
85.4
80.2
(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
2004
2005
2006
('000 t)
Apples
39.5
61.4
45.1
Pears
54.3
61.6
50.2
Total
93.8
122.9
95.3
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.


Table 4: Cool storage capacity(a)
Australia
2004
2005
2006
('000 t)
Controlled atmosphere storage
209.7
221.7
208.1
Other cool storage
91.9
89.1
82.1
Total
301.6
310.8
290.1
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.