7121.0.55.002 - Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, 2004-05  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/02/2006   
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Agricultural Survey: Apples and Pears, Australia, Final, 2004-05

Apples

Final estimates for 2004-05 show the number of apple trees increased by 2% from the previous year to 10.8 million. Increases in tree numbers were reported in the main growing state of Victoria and in South Australia. These were offset by falls in other states. The total number of trees reported in Victoria increased by 7% to 3.8 million while in New South Wales, the second main growing state, they fell by 2% to 2.0 million.

The production of apples in 2004-05 increased by 26% from the previous year to 326,600 tonnes, with increases reported in all states except Western Australia and the ACT. Producers reported generally better conditions, compared to the previous 'difficult' season. Victoria, the main producing state, reported an increase in apple production of 46% to 122,300 tonnes, New South Wales reported an increase of 34% to 64,100 tonnes and South Australia reported an increase of 44% to 29,100 tonnes.

The four most common varieties of apples produced in Australia in 2004-05 were:

    • Granny Smith (66,300 tonnes)
    • Cripps Pink (including Pink Lady) (61,100 tonnes)
    • Gala (38,100 tonnes)
    • Delicious - Striped Red (30,900 tonnes)


Pears

Final estimates for 2004-05 show the number of pear trees increased by 4% from the previous year to 2.1 million. An increase in trees numbers of 5% in Victoria, which is by far the largest pear grower with 1.7 million trees (or 81% of the national total) and a smaller increase in Tasmania were partly offset by falls in all other states.

The production of pears increased by 7% from the previous year to 151,400 tonnes in 2004-05. Increases in production were reported in all states except New South Wales and Western Australia.

The four most common varieties of pears produced in Australia in 2004-05 were:
  • WBC (including Williams/Duchess/Bartlett) (68,800 tonnes)
  • Packham (60,700 tonnes)
  • Beurre Bosc (10,300 tonnes)
  • Nashi (3,800 tonnes)


Apples and Pears sent for processing

The quantity of apples sent for processing in 2004-05 increased by 55% to 61,400 tonnes, after the poor season in the previous year. Victoria and New South Wales recorded the largest quantity of apples sent for processing, with 21,200 tonnes and 18,800 tonnes respectively.

The quantity of pears sent for processing in 2004-05 increased by 13% to 61,600 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest quantity of pears sent for processing with 58,900 tonnes.


Cool storage capacity

The cool storage capacity of apple and pear growers in 2004-05 rose by 3% from the previous year to 310,800 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest capacity with 152,600 tonnes followed by Tasmania with 49,700 tonnes and New South Wales with 43,600 tonnes.

(State data are available on request.)

Table 1: Apples(a)
Australia
2003
r2004
2005
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
10,210.8
10,603.1
10,766.8
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Bonza
3.5
3.2
2.8
Braeburn
5.2
3.4
3.8
Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)
48.2
47.4
61.1
Cripps Red (Sundowner)
12.7
14.3
20.4
Delicious - Golden
24.0
17.3
24.9
Delicious - Block Red
28.3
24.0
24.7
Delicious - Striped Red
39.9
27.4
30.9
Fuji
26.9
17.9
30.1
Gala
34.9
29.6
38.1
Granny Smith
77.0
55.5
66.3
Jonagold
5.5
5.3
5.9
Jonathan
6.1
4.3
5.6
Lady Williams
6.9
4.9
6.9
All other apples
7.0
5.5
5.1
Total production
326.1
260.0
326.6
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
38.9
28.9
35.6
r revised since previous issue
(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
2003
2004
2005
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
2,022.3
2,058.6
2,131.3
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Beurre Bosc
9.6
10.5
10.3
Corella
0.6
0.7
1.2
Josephine
2.8
3.3
3.4
Nashi
3.8
3.5
3.8
Packham
52.9
53.3
60.7
Red Anjou
0.3
0.4
0.4
Sensation
0.7
0.7
0.6
WBC
66.6
67.5
68.8
All other pears
2.5
2.2
2.4
Total production
139.7
142.1
151.4
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
83.8
82.4
85.4
(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
2004
2005
('000 t)
Apples
70.6
39.5
61.4
Pears
54.8
54.3
61.6
Total
125.4
93.8
122.9
(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
2004
2005
('000 t)
Controlled atmosphere storage
199.6
209.7
221.7
Other cool storage
87.3
91.9
89.1
Total
286.9
301.6
310.8
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.