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Citrus fruits
Western Australia is a relatively small producer of citrus, accounting for less than 2 per cent of the nation's production. The State imports around 20,000 tonnes annually providing an opportunity for Western Australia to increase its production to meet local demand. Local production is expected to increase to more than 15,000 tonnes in 2004/2005 and will continue to rise as new plantings come into production. Although influenced by production in the Eastern States, around 10% of the WA crop is currently exported. Major south-west growing regions are Gingin, Bindoon/Chittering and Harvey.
There is increased confidence in citrus production with a steady 10% per annum increase in plantings in the south-west over the past 3 years, and estimates for a similar increase over the next five years. There are further substantial new plantings, with a view to exporting, of red-fleshed grapefruit in the Kimberley, and easy peels and navel oranges in the south-west.
The Department of Agriculture and Food has pooled resources with the WA Fruit Growers Association (WAFGA) Citrus Council, Horticulture Australia and the Citrus Australia Ltd Cittgroup Program to develop a project to support the strategic development of the WA Citrus Industry. This strategy has met with the approval of all stakeholders and is considered an effective method of servicing the needs of this developing industry.
To get an overview of the citrus industry in Western Australia see Citrus from Western Australia at a glance [Expired].
Resources for improving your business
Environmental management and sustainability of our agricultural systems is becoming increasingly important. Information on developing environmental management systems (38kb PDF) and organic horticulture (280kb PDF) are available.
The Fruit development budget guide 2003 (Miscellaneous Publication 22/2003) is available in hard copy from the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australias Head Office. It details the costs/benefits of further developing your business, with estimates of investment results, net profits and annual cash flow budgets for some examples of fruit crops in south-west Western Australia.
Choice of variety/rootstock combination is paramount to the success of any orchard. The following resources are available:
- Citrus rootstocks for Western Australia (109kb PDF). Selecting the right rootstock for your orchard is very important. A root system that is compatible, healthy and well adapted to its environment is essential if an orchard is to be a success.
- Orange varieties for Western Australia (123kb PDF). Choosing varieties for your orchard can be difficult, especially if you are looking at new varieties that have not had extensive evaluation in your area. There are a number of considerations that will improve your chance of success with a new variety.
- Mandarins, tangors and tangelos (147kb PDF). This Farmnote is intended to provide basic information on some of the commonly grown citrus varieties in Western Australia, as well as some information on promising new varieties that have only recently been released in Australia and have not been tested under Western Australian conditions.
Tree management is also very important, and information on Maturity testing of citrus (45kb PDF), Pruning citrus trees and Improving fruit quality using Gibberellic Acid is also available.
Factsheets are also available on Nursery suppliers of citrus trees (43kb PDF) [Expired], Citrus industry information for commercial growers (104kb PDF).
Resources for Biosecurity and Quarantine
Hortguard - all sectors of Western Australia's horticultural industry are working together to maintain maximum freedom from major pests, diseases and weeds and to minimise risk of chemical residues in produce. Some of the exotic threats to citrus are:
- Citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri) (91kb PDF) Citrus canker is a highly damaging disease of citrus crops caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri. Severe infection can lead to defoliation, dieback, blemished fruit and premature fruit drop.
- Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (361kb PDF)
- Spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus (335kb PDF)
There are also Requirements for moving plants, cuttings, bud wood, tissue cultures, bulbs, cut flowers and seeds into Western Australia (245kb PDF).
Resources for pest and disease management
- Aphids in citrus
- Citrus leafminer
- Monitoring and control of thrips in citrus (191kb PDF)
- Scale in citrus
- Mediterranean Fruit Fly Control
- Whitefly (93kb PDF)
- Control of pest snails and slugs (235kb PDF)
- Green coffee scale (Coccus viridis) (91kb PDF)
Resources for post harvest handling
The Guidelines for the management of microbial food safety in fruit packing houses (437kb PDF) provides practical guidance on how to minimise microbial contamination and food safety risks in packing houses.
Resources located elsewhere
Citrus Australia Ltd is the peak body of the nations citrus growers. Its aim is to promote the common interests and the financial and environmental sustainability of all Australian citrus growers. Their website is very comprehensive, covering topics from marketing and current research, to seasonal updates and the Cittgroup program.
The Perth Market Authority runs Market City in Canning Vale, which is owned by the State Government of Western Australia. Market City is the primary fruit and vegetable wholesale market for the State of Western Australia. This website makes available information such as daily, monthly and yearly price summaries for all produce and also volume statistics.
Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a national research, development and marketing organisation which works in partnership with the horticulture sector to invest in programs that provide benefit to the Australian horticultural industry. Their website details current horticulture projects being funded in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government, and provides access to final reports from past projects.
Contact us: you can contact citrus team members at the Department of Agriculture Western Australias Head Office (South Perth), Bunbury Office, and Waroona District Office.
Page amended 13 March 2007
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