7121.0.55.002 - Agricultural Survey, Apples and Pears, Australia, 2003-04  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/02/2005   
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Agricultural Survey: Apples and Pears, Australia, Final, 2003-04

Apples

Final estimates for 2003-04 show the number of apple trees increased by 3% from the previous year to 10.5 million. Increases 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 increased by 9% to 2.1 million, while in Victoria, numbers increased by 8% to 3.5 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in Tasmania, down by 12% to 1.4 million trees.

The production of apples in 2003-04 decreased by 22% from the previous year to 254,900 tonnes. Decreases in production in most states reflected unfavourable seasonal conditions, including drought, frost or hailstorms. Victoria reported a decrease in apple production of 29% to 84,100 tonnes, Tasmania reported a decrease of 29% to 37,300 tonnes and New South Wales reported a 23% decrease to 47,700 tonnes. The one exception was an increase in apple production in Queensland, up 14% to 27,900 tonnes. This was largely due to increases in production by some bigger orchardists.

The four most common varieties of apples produced in Australia in 2003-04 were:

  • Granny Smith (55,500 tonnes)
  • Cripps Pink (Pink Lady TM ) (47,100 tonnes)
  • Gala (28,300 tonnes)
  • Delicious - Striped Red (27,400 tonnes)


Pears

Final estimates for 2003-04 show the number of pear trees increased by 2% from the previous year to 2.1 million. All states, except Queensland, recorded increases. The largest increase was in South Australia, which recorded a 13% increase in the number of pear trees, up to 116,500.

The production of pears increased by 2% from the previous year to 142,100 tonnes in 2003-04. Increases in production were reported in all states except New South Wales and Tasmania.

The four most common varieties of pears produced in Australia in 2003-04 were:
  • WBC (including Williams/Duchess/Bartlett) (67,500 tonnes)
  • Packham (53,300 tonnes)
  • Beurre Bosc (10,500 tonnes)
  • Nashi (3,500 tonnes)


Apples and Pears sent for processing

The quantity of apples sent for processing in 2003-04 fell significantly from the previous year, down by 44% to 39,500 tonnes. Victoria and New South Wales recorded the largest quantity of apples sent for processing, each with 10,800 tonnes, followed by Tasmania with 6,800 tonnes.

The quantity of pears sent for processing in 2003-04 remained little changed from the previous year at 54,300 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest quantity of pears sent for processing by far with 51,600 tonnes.


Cool storage capacity

The cool storage capacity of apple and pear growers in 2003-04 rose by 5% from the previous year to 301,600 tonnes. Victoria recorded the largest capacity at 141,000 tonnes followed by Tasmania at 47,700 tonnes.

(State data are available on request.)

Table 1: Apples(a)
Australia
2002
2003
2004
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
10,202.9
10,210.8
10,505.3
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Bonza
4.5
3.5
3.2
Braeburn
5.8
5.2
3.0
Cripps Pink (Pink Lady)
43.1
48.2
47.1
Cripps Red (Sundowner)
10.5
12.7
13.6
Delicious - Golden
23.1
24.0
16.4
Delicious - Block Red
29.9
28.3
24.0
Delicious - Striped Red
42.8
39.9
27.4
Fuji
21.9
26.9
17.0
Gala
33.7
34.9
28.3
Granny Smith
70.1
77.0
55.5
Jonagold
5.7
5.5
4.6
Jonathan
7.4
6.1
4.3
Lady Williams
6.7
6.9
4.9
All other apples
15.2
7.0
5.5
Total production
320.5
326.1
254.9
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
39.7
38.9
28.7
(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
2002
2003
2004
NUMBER OF TREES ('000)
Total
1,827.0
2,022.3
2,058.6
PRODUCTION OF FRUIT (fresh weight) ('000 t)
Beurre Bosc
10.6
9.6
10.5
Corella
0.7
0.6
0.7
Josephine
3.1
2.8
3.3
Nashi
2.6
3.8
3.5
Packham
55.1
52.9
53.3
Red Anjou
0.3
0.3
0.4
Sensation
0.6
0.7
0.7
WBC
71.7
66.6
67.5
All other pears
2.8
2.5
2.2
Total production
147.5
139.7
142.1
Yield (kg/tree)(b)
96.3
83.8
82.4
(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
2002
2003
2004
('000 t)
Apples
57.4
70.6
39.5
Pears
61.1
54.8
54.3
Total
118.4
125.4
93.8
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.


Table 4: Cool storage capacity(a)
Australia
2002
2003
2004
('000 t)
Controlled atmosphere storage
196.6
199.6
209.7
Other cool storage
84.4
87.3
91.9
Total
280.9
286.9
301.6
(a) Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.