​​​​​​​Horticulture​ Statistics Handbook​​

The annual Horticulture Statistics ​​Handbook​​ produced by ​Horticulture Innovation Australia provides data on market size, value, structure and consumption of horticulture crops in Australia. It covers 74 horticultural categories including all fruit, vegetable, nuts and amenity crops.  This information provides the most accurate view available through the Australian fresh market wholesale value and volume for each category.  

The workshop material below remains relevant to those seeking to develop successful fresh food supply chains. Use these tools with the information gathered from the latest annual Horticulture Handbook

Market Information Workshops​

In 2011 and 2012 Market Information workshops​​​ were held in the Meander and Midlands areas. ​This material remains relevant to those seeking to development successful fresh food supply chains. Copies of the presentations and information from the workshops are still available as per the links below.

• Understanding markets, consumers and supply chain workshops presented by food expert Martin Kneebone of Freshlogic in conjunction with the former Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts (DEDTA) - November 2011 and May 2012.

• 'Building Successful Supply Chains: Don't let your final customer get out of your sight! seminar presented by Professor David Hughes Imperial College, London in conjunction with DEDTA - Oatlands May 2012.

Note:  the Department of Economic Development is now within the Department of State Growth
 

Market Profiles - Information Sheets

Preliminary market research has been conducted on the enterprises that are part of the enterprise suitability mapping. This work provides an initial overview of such issues as current markets, consumer buying trends, market outlook, and potential future markets.

​   Barley Profile (last updated October 2011)   (209Kb)	​   Blueberry Profile (updated March 2014)   (527Kb)
Carrot Profile (last updated May 2014)   (836Kb)	Carrot Seed Profile (Updated March 2014)   (158Kb)
​   Cherry Profile (Updated March 2014)   (518Kb)	​   Hazelnut Profile (Updated March 2014)   (474Kb)
Hemp Profile (last updated July 2011)   (147Kb)	​   Linseed Profile (Updated March 2014)   (286Kb)
Lucerne Profile (Updated March 2014)   (605Kb)​	​   Olives Profile (Updated March 2014)   (273Kb)
​   Onion Profile (Updated March 2014)   (343Kb)	​   Poppy Profile (last updated October 2011)   (167Kb)
​   Potato Profile (Updated March 2014)   (426Kb)	​   Raspberry Profile (Updated March 2014)   (762Kb)
​   Strawberry Profile (Updated March 2014)   (981Kb)	​   Wheat Profile (Updated March 2014)   (223Kb)
​   Wine Profile (Updated March 2014)   (306Kb)	​

Business Structures

There are a number of possible business structures for a farming enterprise. The most common ones are corporations/companies, partnerships, cooperatives and joint ventures. This section currently contains information provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

The following information is reproduced with permission from work provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

Business Structures (233 KB)

Alternative Business Structures

The Tasmanian vegetable industry is facing a period of structural adjustment. Industry sources report that the vegetable farming sector is likely to shift business structures over the next few years, resulting in fewer and larger businesses and/or cooperative or leasing arrangements with smaller growers. These changes are occurring due to an ongoing requirement to produce food cheaply and a good way to do this is by taking advantage of economies of scale. Economies of scale describe spreading of overhead (fixed) costs across additional land or vegetables produced.

As part of the alternative business structures for the Tasmanian vegetable, potato and onion industries project a series of information sheets have been produced for vegetable growers to help evaluate opportunities to improve profit through increasing economies of scale, leasing and/or collective marketing.

The information sheets available below are:

• Increasing productivity - achieving economies of scale in vegetable production;
• A new business structure - the options and benefits;
• Collaborative business models;
• Collective marketing - selling vegetables profitably!;
• Land leasing; and,
• Legal business structures.

An excel calculator (scale of vegetable production - profit calculator) has also been developed to allow a rapid assessment for options to improve economies of scale.

It is important to seek professional advice on choosing the correct business structure that will take into account personal situations, existing and anticipated business activities, future objectives, costs, and the taxation and legal implications.

Increasing Productivity (2.19 MB)

A New Business Structure - the options and benefits (1.51 MB)

Collaborative Business Models (1014 KB)

Collective Marketing - selling vegetables profitably (1.19 MB)

Land Leasing (997 KB)

Legal Business Structures (1.67 MB)

Excel calculator:

  Scale of Vegetable Production - Profit Calculator   (28Kb)

For more information contact:

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Extension Leader - Vegetable Centre
Email: Sue.Hinton@utas.edu.au

Additional Tools

There are a number of tools available that can assist you in understanding markets and making more informed decisions. These include: