 |
|
|
| |
World goes nuts for Australian almonds
 The
Australian almond industry continues to bloom with the
latest figures revealing 60 per cent growth in the value
of almond exports this year.
Julie Haslett, CEO of the representative body the Almond
Board of Australia (ABA), said the increase in the
global demand for almonds has contributed to the growth
of Australia’s horticultural exports.
“World almond consumption has been growing at an average
rate of nine per cent per annum over the last 10 years,”
she noted.
Currently, 60 per cent of the Australian almond crop is
exported to more than 40 countries around the world,
making it Australia’s third largest horticultural export
- worth $120 million in 2008-2009. The ABA explained
that strong export demand for Australia’s almonds had
been driven by India and the Middle East, with the value
of export sales to those regions having almost
tripled since last year.
Domestic interest is also on the rise. “More than 90 per
cent of almonds sold in Australia today are grown and
produced by Australian farmers. Australians are eating
more almonds, with domestic consumption having increased
by over 10 per cent in the last 12 months,” Ms Haslett
said.
Australia currently produces around 3 per cent of the
world’s almonds. Over the next three years, as existing
plantings reach full maturity, it is forecast that
Australia will surpass Spain (8 per cent) to become the
world’s second largest almond producer, behind the state
of California (82 per cent).
Australian almond plantings have increased from 3,750
hectares in 1999 to 27,300 hectares in 2008, making it
one of Australia’s fastest growing horticulture sectors.
Production is expected to increase to 80,000 tonnes by
2015, more than doubling the current levels.
The key almond growing areas around Australia include
Sunraysia in Victoria, the Riverland and Adelaide in SA
and the Riverina region in NSW.
In Australia, there are many developments in what once
may have been a fairly monolithic agricultural
structure. Today, many producers are adding value by
establishing their own processing enterprises, as in
burgeoning local ‘boutique’ cheese and dairy foods
production. There are many ways a skilled immigrant can
establish a rewarding career, or a small business, in
Australia’s country areas. Now’s a good time to sow the
first seeds. A bumper harvest awaits those who succeed.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
