Avocados have become Western Australia's most valuable fruit commodity, with wine grapes, apples, strawberries and olives making up the top five.
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The figures come from a recently released WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) snapshot of the contribution horticulture makes to the Western Australian economy.
The publication, Situation Analysis of Horticulture in Western Australia, is the first of its type to give a detailed breakdown of the area, value and volume of horticulture production.
In 2020, avocados made up more than 30 per cent of the value of WA's fruit crops.
The state's top top five vegetable crops were carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, onions and broccoli.
WA's annual wholesale value of horticulture production in 2020 was $1.49 billion, which increased to $3.03 billion once it reached the end consumer in WA and point of export.
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DPIRD research scientist and report co-author Manju Radhakrishnan said horticulture was an intensive, high value production system, generating significant economic and employment benefits to the regions.
"The sector has seen significant growth to meet export and domestic demand," Mrs Radhakrishnan said.
"The snapshot draws information from a number of sources and provides a consolidated overview of the value of horticulture which has often been undervalued by organisations collecting data."
The figures were captured during a period when industry was affected adversely by COVID-19, with labour shortages, supply chain interruptions and freight issues.
WA horticulture comprises an area of about 45,000 hectares, with roughly two thirds occupied by fruit, including wine grapes, and one third by vegetables and annual horticultural crops.
"The production of both fruit and vegetables is concentrated with up to 90 per cent of production coming from the top ten fruit industries and above 70 per cent from top ten vegetable industries," Mrs Radhakrishnan said.
"Production regions are also concentrated, with approximately 90 per cent of production by value coming from 20 very important local government areas.
"Some of the peri-urban areas are intensive producers of horticulture, an important aspect in terms of strategic planning."
Manjimup led the way in terms of production value, followed by Wanneroo, Gingin and Harvey.
A copy of the report is available from the DPIRD website HERE, by searching for "horticulture analysis".
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