MEDIA RELEASE 17 August 2009
The Australian almond industry blossoms
With the almond blossom season well underway, the Australian almond industry
continues to boom with the nation set to become the world's second largest
almond producer by 2012.
Australia currently produces around 3 per cent of the world's almonds, heavily
dominated by California (82 per cent). But as existing plantings reach full
maturation, it is forecast that Australia will surpass Spain (8 per cent) to
become the world's second largest almond producer within the next three years.
Australian almond plantings have increased over the past nine years from 3,750
hectares in 1999 to 27,300 hectares in 2008, representing one of Australia's
fastest growing horticulture sectors and the fastest growing almond industry in
the world.
Julie Haslett, CEO of the Almond Board of Australia (ABA), said the industry is
undergoing rapid expansion.
"Less than 20 per cent of all Australian almond plantings have reached full
maturity so there is promise for great increase of our production capability
within the next decade," Haslett said.
"World almond consumption has been growing at a rate of around 9 per cent per
annum for the last 10 years. Even if we only assume an annual growth of 5 per
cent, the world's demand for almonds will exceed available supply within the
next three years. The Australian almond industry is getting ready for this surge
in demand," she explained.
The production of Australian almonds reached 36,000 tonnes (kernel) in 2009. It
is expected to increase to 80,000 tonnes by 2015, more than doubling the current
production.
The Australian almond crop, which is exported to more than 40 countries, also
represents one of Australia's largest horticultural exports worth $120 million
in 2008-2009.
The key almond growing areas around Australia include Sunraysia in Victoria, the
Riverland and Adelaide in SA and the Riverina region in NSW.
"Throughout the almond blossom season, finishing in late August, local residents
can notice the change in the almond trees as the buds open into almond blossom
flowers in preparation for pollination," Haslett said.
"It's a great time for Australian farmers to show off the natural beauty and
goodness of the almond crop. The vast majority of almonds sold in Australia
today are grown and produced by Australian farmers," she added.
The Almond Board of Australia (ABA) is a non-profit, membership-based
organisation representing the interests of Australian almond growers, processors
and marketers.
For more information on the Australian almond industry, visit
www.australianalmonds.com.au
or call (08) 8582 2055.
Released for Almond Board of Australia by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Kim Larochelle or Gemma Crowley on (02) 9413
4244.
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