Table Grapes and Dried Fruit, Dried Grapes

Table Grapes
& Dried Fruit

TABLE GRAPES
Table grapes are a large component of the Mildura Region’s grape production accounting for 69% of the total Australian table grape production. The labour-intensive nature of the table grape crop (unlike dried or wine grapes) requires the industry to employ a great number of permanent and itinerant workers. Backpackers are drawn to the region 9 months of the year to assist growers meet the demand of harvest. Australian Table Grape Association recent reports indicate around 40 varieties of table grapes; where local growers to the Mildura Region produce over 20 varietals. 60% of Table Grapes produced in Australia are sold domestically and 40% are exported overseas. The three main export destinations are; Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. The Table Grape industry is highly competitive with prices ranging from $10 to $30 per box depending on quality and current market prices.


		MILDURA REGION TABLE GRAPE SEASONALITY CHART

		Table Grape Varieties	Availability of table grapes in the Mildura Region

		Red Globe	Feb - May
		Menindee Seedless	Jan - Feb
		Crimson Seedless	Mar - May
		Calmeria	Apr - May
		Red Emperor	Apr - May
		O'Hanez	Apr - May
		Ralli Seedless	Jan - Feb
		Red Rob	Mar - Apr
		Cardinal	Jan - Feb
		Stanley Seedless	Mar - Apr
		Ribier	Mar
		Nyora	Apr - May
		Jade Seedless	Apr - May
		Multi-use varieties for table	Unknown
		Thompson Seedless	Feb - Apr

PACKAGING AND
PROCESSING
SERVICES
Packaging and processing of table grapes is usually carried out in packing sheds and has recently diversified to field packing. Polystyrene boxes are usually used to pack bulk fruit for distribution and some are bagged for supermarket supply. Individual table grape growers generally carry out packaging services and smaller growers contract the larger grower/producer to package their fruit.

There are certain skills to packing table grapes, and to ensure they are kept in optimum condition experienced pickers and packers are sought each harvest.


Total Aust production (t) 02/03	Total value of Aust production $AMillion 02/03	Total Aust exports (t) 02/03	Value of Aust export 02/03 $AMillion	Total production by tonne in *GI area, SA, VIC & NSW 03	Mildura Regions* estimated % of total Aust production 02/03

86,523t	$171.7m	31,600t	$96.5m	North West VIC - 48,408t	69%
				Big Rivers NSW - 9,010t
				Lower Murray SA - 1,976t
				Total – 59,394t

Source – ABS Wine & Grape Industry 2003. * To evaluate the Mildura Region Table Grape statistics the use of ABS wine and grape production data was used, and therefore includes the wider geographical area zones of Big Rivers NSW, North West Victoria and Lower Murray SA. Therefore the Mildura Regions estimated % includes the three geographical areas as data specific only to the Mildura Region has not been surveyed.

GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE DESCRIPTION

Geographical Area Zone

Region

North West Victoria

Murray-Darling, Swan Hill and other

Big Rivers

Murray-Darling, Perricoota, Swan Hill and other

Lower Murray

Riverland and other

Contacts
Sunraysia Table Grape Growers
Association Inc.
PO Box 4195
Mildura VIC 3502
Tel 61 3 5024 5692

The Australian Table Grape Association Inc.
31 Deakin Ave, Mildura, Victoria, Australia, 3500
Ph 61 3 5021 5718
Fax 61 3 5023 3321
Mob 0417 122 086
Email atgainc@ncable.com.au
Website www.atga.com.au

Dried GRAPES
95% of Australia’s dried grapes are produced in the Mildura Region. The success of the dried grape industry can be attributed to the dry climate, soil type and the irrigation systems in the area. The main varieties grown for dried grapes are Sultanas, Currants, Raisins and Sunmuscats. Thompson Seedless (GA Sultanas), normally grown for the fresh fruit market, can also be dried when excess has been produced for the table grape industry.

The industry was established in the early 1890s. At that time, the district’s founding fathers, the Chaffey Brothers had around 8,000 acres of the region under irrigation, supplying around 3,500 pioneering fruit growers. However, in those days transporting fresh fruit by river to Echuca and by road to Melbourne took many days, and produce would often spoil. When a promised rail link to Mildura didn’t eventuate, growers began drying their grapes for freighting to Melbourne and other markets.

Today the high quality, light golden coloured fruit produced in the Mildura Region demands a premium on domestic and international markets.

The Australian Dried Fruits Association
The Australian Dried Fruits Association (ADFA) was established by growers in 1907 to protect their interests, and has seen massive industry change over almost a century. The head office is located in Mildura.

At present an initiative to re-position the dried grape industry and stimulate investment is being developed by the ADFA in conjunction with a number of industry stakeholders and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Australian Dried Fruits Industry Strategic Plan 2004-2007 will essentially drive the industry forward, increasing production and improving the viability of growers. Copies of the Strategic Plan are available from the ADFA.

The ADFA offers a wide range of extension and promotion services to the industry. It operates the ADFA Shop in Deakin Avenue, Mildura, as a shopfront for the industry with a focus on the tourist trade.

Contacts
Australian Dried Fruits Association (ADFA)
31 Deakin Ave PO Box 5042 Mildura VIC 3502
Tel 61 3 5023 5174
Email PChidgzey@adfa.asn.au
Website www.adfa.asn.au



DRIED GRAPE PRODUCTION – GROWER DELIVERY VOLUME BY VARIETY, TOTAL VALUE TO AUSTRALIA AND THE MILDURA REGION

Dried grape varietals	Hectares*	Mildura Region production (t) (Total received weight)	Mildura Region farm gate value 04 (based on average prices)	Mildura Region % of Aust production

Sultanas	8,490 incl Ha Thompson Seedless	22,034t	$32m	99%

Currants	565Ha	2,334t	$4.2m	80%

Raisins	1,250Ha	1,308t	$2.2m	100%

Sunmuscat	247Ha	1,181t	$1.7m	100%

Other varieties (Shirana, flame seedless, natural raisins)	177Ha	120t	$168,000

Naturals	unknown	421t	$610,000

GA Sultanas (Thompson Seedless excess from table grape industry)	See sultanas	509t	$687,150

Total	10,729Ha	27,907t	$ 41.6m	95%

* Hectares from 2003 SunRISE 21 Crop Report and the Murray-Darling Region. Hectares provided by 2003 SunRISE 21 Crop Report should not be used in correlation with the production volume listed above as the hectares provided refer to different regions and represent multi-use varieties that may be used for dried, table or wine purposes. Data source, Australian Dried Fruit Association - Australian Dried Grape Production - Season 2004

PROCESSING & PACKAGING
FACILITIES
SUNBEAM FOODS
The Sunbeam Foods brand name is known by millions of Australian consumers. Sunbeam markets an array of dried fruit products, both domestically and internationally, including sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed fruit, apricots, prunes, peaches, pears and other niche varieties. Sunbeam products are packaged in a variety of forms, ranging from retail branded consumer packs to bulk industrial and food service products. The company has been at the forefront of new technologies and industry development. The Sunbeam head office is located in the Mildura Region, where its major dried grape processing facilities are located.

It is internationally certified to ISO9002 and HACCP Quality Standards. In early 2004, Sunbeam completed the purchase of the South Australian-based Angas Park Fruit Company, a major player in the dried tree fruit industry, with dried grape interests in the Mildura Region.

Sunbeam’s website includes a comprehensive outline of the company’s activities, educational resources and children’s activities.

Contacts
Sunbeam Foods
Sunbeam Ave
PO Box 21 Irymple VIC 3498
Tel 61 3 5051 4200
Email enquiries@sunbeamfoods.com.au
Website www.sunbeamfoods.com.au

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