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Industry Overview

Industry Overview

Introduction

Avocados first came officially to Australia in seed form in 1840, being planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney . Further commercial imports of seed and plants continued over the next 110 years until by the late 1960s a developing Australian industry began to take shape.

Currently orchards are found in the States of Queensland, New South Wales , South Australia , Victoria , Western Australia and Tasmania . Avocados are a perennial fruit and Australian premium produce is available all year round because of the widespread and climatically diverse growing regions. More than 70 Avocado varieties are grown in Australia . The main varieties grown for market are Hass, Reed, Sharwil, Shepard and Wurtz, with the most prevalent being Hass, which accounts for 75 per cent of Australian production.

Australia is always producing Avocados with the highest volumes available between March and November.

History

Avocados are known to have existed from as far back as 291 BC. They originally took root in the highlands of Central America and Mexico and the lowlands of Columbia in South America , where they grew wild.

They were transported to Europe in the 16th century after the Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico and Peru . When the Aztecs discovered the unique greenish coloured fruit with a seed in the centre they dubbed it 'ahuacatl', which has evolved over the centuries into the word avocado. Other names for Avocado include agovago pears, abogado, avocatier, avocaat, avocato, avagato, albeccata and alligator pear.

Industry Structure in Australia

Avocados Australia Limited is the Peak Industry Body in Australia for Avocados. We are a "not for profit" membership based organisation. Our members are Avocado growers along with associated businesses and industry people.

Avocados Australia seeks to work with all parts of the chain from production through to the consumer. By working together we seek to continually improve the ability of growers to provide a healthy, profitable and safe product for all consumers. As part of this continual improvement we manage a "research & development" and "marketing and promotion" program for the Australian Avocado industry.

The Australian Avocado industry comprises 1200 growers across the country and produces 46,000 tonnes of Avocados each year worth $AUD120 million at farm gate and $AUD420 million at retail level. Key growing areas are North, Central and Southeast Queensland, Northern and Central New South Wales, the Sunraysia or Tristate area (South Australia, Victoria and South Western New South Wales) and Western Australia.

For more information contact Avocados Australia at admin@avocado.org.au

Avocado growing regions