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The value of WA's horticulture industries

These reports highlight the significant economic contribution of horticulture to Western Australia, offering insights into both the direct and indirect value of horticultural production.

Vegetables stacked on supermarket shelf
  • Situation analysis of horticulture in Western Australia
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  • Value of horticulture industries in Western Australia 2022–23
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Situation analysis of horticulture in Western Australia

What is the horticulture situational analysis?

The horticulture situational analysis provides a snapshot into the direct and indirect value that horticultural production makes to the Western Australian (WA) economy. The comprehensive report was compiled by leading department horticultural experts.

Situation analysis of horticulture in Western Australia

Area, volume, and value of horticultural crop production by local government area in Western Australia

Read the report 
Avocado hanging on tree
Avocado - part of the department's research at Manjimup

Report background

The research was led by department technical specialists Manju Radhakrishnan, Neil Lantzke and Paul Mattingley.

The data was collected in 2020, meaning that the results refer to a time when the industry was adversely affected by COVID-19. These impacts included:

  • labour shortages
  • supply chain interruptions
  • freight issues.

Key results

Horticulture production

  • The annual wholesale value of horticulture production in WA was $1.49 billion (when the data was collected).
  • Horticultural production increased to $3.03 billion in value once it reached the end consumer in WA and point of export.
  • WA horticulture (excluding nuts) is estimated to be grown on an area of 45,077 hectares (ha). Of this land:
    • 64% produces fruit including wine grapes
    • 33% vegetables and annual horticultural crops.
  • WA produced:
    • $716 million worth of vegetables.
    • $638 million worth of fruit.
    • $117 million worth of cut flowers, nurseries and cultivated turf.
    • $22 million worth of nuts.

Highest value fruit and vegetables

  • Vegetables have the highest share in wholesale value (48%) while fruit have the highest share in final sale value (55%).
  • Avocados are the largest fruit crop in terms of value, comprising more than 30% ($201.2 million) of total fruit industry wholesale value.
  • Table and wine grapes have a combined wholesale value of just under 20% ($123 million).
  • Apples have a wholesale value of 10% ($64.5 million).
  • Carrots are the largest crop by value in the vegetable industry, comprising 17% ($119.9 million) of the total wholesale value of vegetables.

Fruit and vegetable industries in WA

  • Horticulture in WA is heavily consolidated, with the top 10 industries comprising almost 90% of the wholesale value of the fruit industry and 71% of the wholesale value of the vegetable industry.
  • Top five fruit industries include avocado, wine grapes, apples, olives and strawberries. The top 20 fruit industries are shown in Figure A in the report.
  • Top five vegetable industries include carrots, ware potatoes, tomatoes, onions and broccoli. The top 20 vegetable industries are shown in Figure B in the report.

Regional distribution

  • More than 90% of the value of the state’s horticulture products are produced in only 20 Local Government Areas.
  • More than 50% of production is within a 250 km radius of the Perth metropolitan area. For many crops, this represents the main market or a transit point to export markets. These LGAs include:
    • Wanneroo
    • Gingin
    • Harvey
    • Busselton
    • Dandaragan
    • Donnybrook-Balingup
    • Swan
    • Kwinana
  • The Shire of Manjimup is the largest production area, contributing more than 16% of the total value of horticulture.
  • Wanneroo, Gingin and Harvey have approximately a 10% to 12% share each.
  • Carnarvon, Busselton and Dandaragan have approximately 6% to 8% share each.

Value of horticulture industries in Western Australia 2022–23

Understanding industry trends is essential for both short- and long-term planning, enabling timely management, interventions and the design of necessary infrastructure. Accurate data in horticulture has always been difficult to obtain.

To address this issue, the department developed a methodology and coordinated data from several reliable sources to develop a more accurate understanding of the industry. In 2021, the report ‘Situation analysis of Horticulture in Western Australia’ was released, which detailed the direct and indirect value of horticulture produced in Western Australia. The Value of horticulture industries in Western Australia 2022–23 is an update of this report.  

In 2022-23, Western Australia produced $1.75 billion worth of fruit, vegetables, nuts and amenity horticulture. This consisted of, fruit at 33% ($580 million), vegetables at 47% ($831 million) and the remainder made up by nuts and amenity horticulture. Fluctuations in the production of avocado (2022-23 a low production year) affected the value of fruit industries. If we replace the 2022–23 avocado production and price with 2023–24 figures here, the value of fruit would be $707 million, which is 22% higher than the current value. The real value of horticulture increased by 4% compared to 2020, when the previous report was compiled. 

Value of horticulture industries in Western Australia 2022–23

Read the report

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