Mandarins Production and Growth in Australia (2020)

Mandarins are usually available from April to October. Imperial oranges are the most popular ones in the market. Since this fruit is extremely easy to peel and contains few to no seeds, they are extremely popular in Australia. Mandarins belong to the citrus family and are a distinct species of oranges. These spherical oranges are identified as hybrids and are easily damaged due to the cold. In recent times, this fruit has been fused with other citrus species in order to create novel species that have added to the diversity of the citrus family.

Statistics and Overview of Mandarins

Due to this fruit’s immense popularity, mandarins are grown across all states of Australia. They reach their zenith during the winter months.

As of June 2020:

1. 172,934 tonnes of mandarins were harvested and valued at $357 million. Out of this 2% was sent for processing.
2. 65% of Australian household bought this fruit while on their shopping haul. This amounts to around 712 grams per trip.
3. The supply per capita was 3.7 kg, based on the volume supplied.
4. The wholesale value of the fresh supply was estimated at $241 million. Out of this $15.7 million went into food service.

Major Production Areas

Some of the regions where mandarins are grown are Emerald, Mundubbera, Murray Valley and the Riverland.

Mandarin Variants

In the Australian fresh market, there are three main variants that are available.

1. Murcott is identified as a yellow-orange fruit. These account for 29% of the fresh produce.
2. Imperial mandarins are best known for their low seed count. These make up 24% of the total production.
3. Afourer is also a seedless variety that is responsible for 23% of the fresh production.

International Trade

Australia identifies as a net exporter of mandarins. Over the last few years, around 66,916 tonnes of this fruit was exported.