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Vegetable production in the Mildura Region
is valued at over $58.2 million dollars
according to industry estimates in 2003.
4.9% of total Australian vegetables (type
listed below) are produced in the Mildura
Region with a total of 106,038 tonnes
produced annually. Carrots, asparagus and
melons are the three main vegetables; with
carrots and asparagus producing 24% and
23% of the total Australian production and
melons 11% of total Australian production.
The Mildura Region boasts some of
Australia’s most significant carrot production.
Rocky Lamattina and Sons Farms for
example has sophisticated technology for
large scale production and a state of the art
packing and handling facility, ensuring
premium quality and efficiency.
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Irymple Citrus Products produces carrot juice
with an established export market to Japan.
The carrots which are crushed for juice are a
special variety chosen because of their high
beta-carotene levels.
90% of lettuce produced in the Mildura Region
is sold for processing for the food service
industry. Green asparagus is produced year
round predominately for fresh consumption with
Japan and Taiwan being valuable export
markets. Melon growing is ideally suited to the
Mildura region’s hot summer climate.
Rockmelon, watermelon and honeydew are
produced using drip irrigation with produce
marketed domestically and small quantities
exported. Potato growing occurs mostly on
sandhills under centre pivot irrigation with
produce sent to fresh markets and processing
for potato crisps. |
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Vegetables |
Hectares 03 |
Mildura Region production (t) |
Farm gate value A$ |
Estimated total Aust production (t) |
Mildura Regions % of Australian production 04 |
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Carrot |
2,200Ha |
64,500t |
$22,600,000 |
265,000t |
24% |
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Melon |
550Ha |
18,900t |
$13,900,000 |
174,000t |
11% |
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Asparagus |
670Ha |
2,000t |
$8,000,000 |
8,900t |
23% |
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Potato* |
500Ha |
14,000t |
$4,200,000 |
1,400,000t |
1% |
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Lettuce |
100Ha |
3,000t |
$1,900,000 |
135,000t |
2.2% |
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Zucchini & Squash |
75Ha |
1,125t |
$1,100,000 |
16,400t |
6.8% |
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Capsicum & Chilli |
20Ha |
480t |
$420,000 |
41,000t |
1% |
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Eggplant |
20Ha |
308t |
$308,000 |
n/a |
n/a |
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Pumpkin |
45Ha |
1,125t |
$303,000 |
88,000t |
1.3% |
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Sweet Corn |
60Ha |
600t |
$510,000 |
57,000t |
1% |
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Other** |
-Ha |
- |
$5,000,000 |
- |
- |
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Total |
4,240Ha |
106,038t |
$58,241,000 |
2,185,300t |
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Source - Horticulture Australia with Department of Primary Industries NSW and Victoria
* Potatoes are grown 40kms beyond the boundary of the Mildura Region at Boundary Bend. **Other vegetables include bean, pea, cauliflower, cucumber, okra, broccoli, spinach, tomato, garlic and onion. |
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Processing
Irymple Citrus Products
Irymple Citrus Products is the largest vegetable
concentrate manufacturer and one of the top 3
manufacturers of base blended fruit concentrates
and fruit pastes in Australia. Irymple Citrus
Products forms part of The Irymple Group of
Companies , which also controls Roberts Estate
Wines and Irymple Citrus Packing.
Irymple Citrus Products process up to 30,000
tonnes of carrots annually and purchases
approximately 80% of carrots from the Mildura
Region (including the combined area of
Robinvale and Mildura). Carrot Juice is
predominantly made for the export market
where 85% is exported to Japan and 15% sold
to the domestic market.
Green capsicums are purchased from the
Mildura Region, along with Red Capsicum from
QLD and NSW in order to make the right blend
of capsicum juice. 90% of Capsicum Juice is
exported to Japan and 10% to the Australian
domestic market. Irymple Citrus Products can
process up to 3,000 tonnes of capsicum
annually.
Contacts |
Irymple Citrus Products
Fifteenth St Irymple VIC 3498
Tel 61 3 5024 5704
ipc@irymplegroup.com.au |
Carrot Juice Processing Plant – Irymple
Citrus Products
Game St Merbein VIC 3505
Tel 61 3 5025 2879 |
Roberts Estate Wines
Game St Merbein VIC 3505
www.robertsestatewines.com |
Asparagus Growers of Sunraysia
Tel 61 3 5025 6425
www.agos.org.au |
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