Horticulture production
Key Finding
Total Queensland horticulture production increased 10% from 1.07 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 1.18 million tonnes in 2017–18, with a peak in production at 1.21 million tonnes in 2015–16, its trendline increasing at a slight rate over this time period. Total Queensland horticulture crops gross value of production increased by 39% over the same period.
Filter this information
Queensland or Natural Resource Management region:
- Map
- List
NRM (select locations to filter information)
Queensland
Queensland’s horticultural industry grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables including apple, avocado, banana, beans, capsicum, grapes, macadamia, mandarin, mango, melon, mushroom, pineapple, potato, pumpkin, strawberry and tomato.
Total horticulture production increased 10% between 2013–14 and 2017–18 to 1.18 million, with a peak in production of 1.21 million tonnes in 2015–16.
Fruit production statewide increased about 29% from 2013–14 to 2017–18, to 700,000 tonnes.
Over the same period, vegetable production decreased slightly, from 550,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 500,000 tonnes in 2017–18.
Challenging climatic events including cyclones, floods and heatwaves impact on production. Food sabotage also impacted the strawberry industry.
Regionally, vegetable production has declined in the North Queensland Dry Tropics (formerly Burdekin) and Burnett Mary Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions while increasing in the Southeast Queensland NRM region. Fruit production has increased in the Burnett–Mary, Southeast Queensland and Wet Tropics NRM regions.
Demand from China has boosted fruit production and has seen an increase in export prices for some Queensland-grown fruits and nuts.
Queensland horticulture crops had a gross value of production (GVP) of $2.84 billion in 2017–18. This is 39% more than in 2013–14.
Vegetables’ GVP increased around 29% to $1.254 billion. Fruit enjoyed a marked increase in GVP of 49%, contributing $1.58 billion in 2017–18.
Burnett Mary
Fruit production increased slightly in the Burnett Mary Natural Resource Management (NRM) region from 130,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 140,000 tonnes in 2017–18.
Vegetable production declined markedly in the region, from 150,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes between 2013–14 and 2017–18.
Fruit gross value of production (GVP) in Burnett Mary NRM region increased by 76% from $277 million in 2013–14 to $488 million in 2017–18.
The region’s GVP for vegetables declined slightly to $240 million in 2017–18.
Macadamia production is becoming a major crop in the region. A significant number of new trees have matured into higher production. Production of this crop was 40% higher than in 2013–14. The price paid for macadamia increased significantly, along with production.
Cape York
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies.
Desert Channels
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies.
Fitzroy Basin
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies. Significant horticulture crops in the region are pineapples, grapes, mangoes and melons.
Northern Gulf
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies.
North Queensland Dry Tropics
Fruit production fell in the North Queensland Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management (NRM) region from 15,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 14,000 tonnes in 2017–18, with a trough of 8,000 tonnes in 2015–16.
Vegetable production decreased nearly 60% in the region, from 138,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 57,000 tonnes in 2017–18.
The region’s gross value of production (GVP) for fruit stayed constant over the 2013–14 to 2017–18 period at a value of $31 million. The region’s vegetable GVP increased by 12.5% from $208 million in 2013–14 to $234 million in 2017–18.
Reef
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies.
South East Queensland
Southeast Queensland (SEQ) Natural Resource Management (NRM) region grew more fruit and vegetables between 2013–14 and 2017–18, and enjoyed increased gross value of production (GVP) both.
Fruit production increased by 16% from 60,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 70,000 tonnes in 2017–18.
Vegetable production also rose 31% from 180,000 tonnes to 240,000 tonnes for the same period.
Fruit GVP in the SEQ NRM region increased 39% over that time to $241 million in 2017–18.
SEQ NRM region vegetables GVP increased 69% from $324 million in 2013–14 to $549 million in 2017–18.
Strawberry prices in early spring 2018 were affected by food sabotage, reducing demand and forcing a withdrawal of stock from supermarkets.
A new farm opened on the Gold Coast which increased the state’s mushroom production, valued at $70 million.
Southern Gulf
No information available for this region.
Southern Queensland
The following Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions were amalgamated to create the Southern Queensland NRM region – Condamine NRM, Queensland Murray Darling Basin NRM and South West NRM.
This region contains horticulture production, however data has not been reported due to data inconsistencies. Significant commodities for the region are apples, stone fruit, berries, capsicums, broccoli and tomatoes.
Torres Strait
No information available for this region.
Wet Tropics
Fruit production increased in the Wet Tropics Natural Resource Management (NRM) region from 250,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 370,000 tonnes in 2017–18. Mangoes, avocadoes and bananas are the main fruit crops produced in the region.
Vegetable production declined markedly in the region from 33,000 tonnes in 2013–14 to 21,000 tonnes in 2017–18.
Fruit Gross value of Production (GVP) increased by over 40% in the region, from $396 million in 2013–14 to $563 million in 2017–18. Vegetable GVP declined from $41 million in 2013–14 to zero in 2017–18.
More information:
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets
No overall data for Queensland
No data recorded for Cape York
No data recorded for Desert Channels
No data recorded for Fitzroy Basin
No data recorded for Northern Gulf
No data recorded for Reef
No data recorded for Southern Gulf
No data recorded for Southern Queensland
No data recorded for Torres Strait
Production amount of Fruit in Burnett Mary NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 132,877 |
| 2015–2016 | 133,669 |
| 2017–2018 | 139,635 |
Production amount of Vegetables in Burnett Mary NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 148,159 |
| 2015–2016 | 71,162 |
| 2017–2018 | 48,418 |
Production values in Burnett Mary NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Product | 2013–2014 | 2015–2016 | 2017–2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 277,000,000 | 387,000,000 | 488,000,000 |
| Vegetables | 241,000,000 | 265,000,000 | 240,000,000 |
Production amount of Fruit in North Queensland Dry Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 15,449 |
| 2015–2016 | 7,559 |
| 2017–2018 | 14,203 |
Production amount of Vegetables in North Queensland Dry Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 137,698 |
| 2015–2016 | 128,414 |
| 2017–2018 | 57,288 |
Production values in North Queensland Dry Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Product | 2013–2014 | 2015–2016 | 2017–2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 31,000,000 | 32,000,000 | 31,000,000 |
| Vegetables | 208,000,000 | 225,000,000 | 234,000,000 |
Production amount of Fruit in South East Queensland NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 63,401 |
| 2015–2016 | 61,322 |
| 2017–2018 | 73,657 |
Production amount of Vegetables in South East Queensland NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 181,619 |
| 2015–2016 | 240,106 |
| 2017–2018 | 238,714 |
Production values in South East Queensland NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Product | 2013–2014 | 2015–2016 | 2017–2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 174,000,000 | 194,000,000 | 241,000,000 |
| Vegetables | 324,000,000 | 431,000,000 | 549,000,000 |
Production amount of Fruit in Wet Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 246,546 |
| 2015–2016 | 363,748 |
| 2017–2018 | 372,994 |
Production amount of Vegetables in Wet Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Year | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | 33,085 |
| 2015–2016 | 27,129 |
| 2017–2018 | 21,254 |
Production values in Wet Tropics NRM region
- Chart
- Table
| Product | 2013–2014 | 2015–2016 | 2017–2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 396,000,000 | 484,000,000 | 563,000,000 |
| Vegetables | 41,000,000 | 24,000,000 | 0 |
Download data from Queensland Government Open Data Portal
Metadata
Area sown and quantities produced of horticulture crops, across Queensland NRM regions were obtained from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, Agricultural Commodities Australia and Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced Australia for the respective years (catalogue numbers 7121 and 7503).