HHort Innovation has launched the latest Horticulture Statistics Handbook – offering the most comprehensive and contemporary data available on all sectors of the Australian horticulture industry in one easy-to-read guide.

The horticulture sector overall exceeded $15 billion in production value in 2019/20 despite the challenging growing and market conditions. Although production volume had decreased by 1.5% due to seasonal conditions such as drought and bushfires, value increased by 4.5%, from $14.4 billion to $15.1 billion.

Hort Innovation Head of Data and Insights Adam Briggs said, “This growth shows that consumers are still supporting and purchasing Aussie fruit, vegetables and nuts despite price increases.”

Featuring more than 470 pages of information drawn from several supply chain sources, including international trade statistics and industry peak bodies, the Handbook includes data on more than 70 horticultural products including fruit, nuts, vegetables, nursery, turf and cut flowers.

Adam said, “This year the Handbook will also be mobile phone compatible for the first time, meaning users can access this incredible data anywhere, anytime.”

According to James Whiteside, CEO of AUSVEG, Peak Industry Body for the vegetable and potato industries, the hort stats dataset is an important resource that helps industry gain a clearer picture of its production value and volume compared to previous years.

“The Horticulture Statistics Handbook has informed our understanding of the performance of the vegetable and potato industries, and provided growers and industry bodies with important data for government, researchers and decision-makers to support policy formation and contribute to a greater understanding of the broader industry,” said Mr Whiteside.

Mr Briggs said, “Nuts have performed extremely well again, having grown by $221 million, one-third of the total growth in horticulture value. Almonds continued their expansion, with value growth of 14%, while macadamias bounced back from a tough 2018/19 to experience value growth of 26%.

“Apples have had two years of double-digit value growth (10% and 13%), despite two years of slight reductions in volume due to seasonal conditions.

While COVID-19 represented challenges, such as the disruption of export supply chains, the industry showed great resilience in its response. Some industries even experienced an increase in demand, such as turf which increased in value by 15% from $243 million to $280 million. This can be attributed to COVID-19 with people turning to gardening and filling their homes with green life during lockdown.”