Join us in Brisbane for the

Queensland Horticulture Export Dinner

Tuesday 8 June 2021, Hilton Hotel

 

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ABOUT THE QUEENSLAND HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

With a gross value of production (GVP) in excess of $2.9 billion (2020/21 forecast), the Queensland production horticulture industry is a prominent contributor toward the State’s economy. In 2018-19 Queensland grew 32% of the nation’s fruit and nuts, 30% of the nation’s vegetables, and exported over 16% of all fruits and vegetables produced.

A substantial proportion of Australia’s total banana, pineapple, avocado, mango, lychee, sweet potato, tomato, capsicum, zucchini, ginger and macadamia production is supplied from Queensland. The estimated 2500 horticulture farms across Queensland commercially grow more than 120 types of fruits, vegetables, and nuts from Stanthorpe in the south to Cooktown in the far north.

Horticulture is Queensland’s second biggest and fastest growing agricultural sector. It is second only to the beef industry in value, and larger than the sugar and grain industries. There are 16 defined horticultural regions in Queensland with a total area of about 100,000 hectares in commercial operation. In addition to mainstream commodities the Industry includes a number of emerging commodities such as olives, Asian vegetables, exotic tropical fruits, bush foods, functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Compared to other agricultural industries, horticulture is a high value and efficient user of water and land resources. The industry occupies only three per cent of the State’s total land under crops and uses only 10 per cent of the State’s irrigation water, yet produces almost 40 per cent of the value of all irrigated products. Approximately 87 per cent of horticulture production is irrigated. Queensland’s horticulture growers are increasingly adopting and improving sustainable farm management practices and have earned a strong reputation for safe, clean and ‘green’ food production.