Citrus Overview and Growth in Australia (2020)

Introduction

Citrus is a term that is predominantly used to identify those flowering plants that originated in the world’s subtropical areas. Moreover, many of these species are traced back to China. Some of the most common citrus fruits include oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, kumquats and lemons. All citrus variants are known to ripen at a slow pace, and they can further be kept on the tree without any spoilage. Predominantly, citrus fruits are consumed fresh. They can easily be broken into segments and consumed raw. Additionally, these citrus fruits can also be consumed as juices and beverages. Due to the increase in research, there is an increase in crop yields and quality. Interestingly, citrus trees flourish in humid conditions as they are tropical plants.

The majority of Australia’s industry is situated near the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers. Also, there are a lot of smaller plants situated in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Oranges and mandarins are the main fruits that are produced in Australia. For instance, oranges make up 78% of the market and mandarins make up 12% of the main domain. Some of the other variants that are available are Valencia, Navel, Lemon, Grapefruit and Limes. Most of the products are available all year round.

Citrus Statistics

As of June 2020:

1. The wholesale value of the citrus fresh supply was $619 million. Out of this amount, $517 million was distributed into retail and the rest was used for food service.
2. The supply per capita of these fruits was 12 kg, based on the volume supplied.
3. 767,766 tonnes of this produce was grown and valued at $942.4 million.
4. 74% of Australian households purchased citrus fruits, buying an average of 832 grams per shopping trip.