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Horticulture Policy
What we do
Our objective is to assist and facilitate the growth and development of a self-reliant, competitive and innovative Australian horticultural industry in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Strategies to achieve this include:
- Development of internationally competitive horticultural supply chains
- Removal of impediments to export market access, and facilitatation of exports
- Support for industry ownership of key services
- Assistance with market development projects and programs to increase consumption of horticulture products, and
- Encouraging innovation along the value chain.
For the horticulture industry to be competitive requires efficient production techniques, sustainable natural resource management, the development of supply and marketing alliances, high quality products and marketing to meet market trends and consumer preferences.
The Horticulture Industry
The Australian horticulture industry produces a diverse range of crops that are seasonal by nature. It contributes significantly to non-metropolitan areas by employing over 80 000 people, with a further 8 500 being employed in fruit and vegetable processing (excluding wine manufacturing). The total area under horticultural production in Australia is approximately 250,000 hectares.
The gross value of production for Australian horticulture in 2005-06 was $6,924 million and is expected to reach $7,246 million in 2006-07. The total export value for fresh and processed horticultural products in 2005-06 was $1,187 million (of which around $800 million was fresh produce and $387 million in processed products). (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006)
Horticulture Fact Sheet
The Horticulture Fact Sheet provides information on industry production and export statistics in addition to Commonwealth Government programs and activities that are working to ensure the industry's continued profitability.