The almond pages on this site include listings of almond nurseries, growers, sales as well as industry overviews, propagation information, almond products and a range of other almond related information.
|
The Almond Board of Australia will be conducting the 14th Australian Almond Conference, from 8th to 10th October 2012 at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, South Australia. The Conference held with the funding support of Horticulture Australia and the many conference sponsors, provides both an opportunity to stay up to date with industry and research developments and to link with suppliers and other growers that can benefit your business. For more information see the Australian Almond Conference page. |
Australian Almond Conference, 2012
Although almonds have been cultivated since ancient times in northern India and across the middle east to Turkey, the U.S. is the world’s primary producer of almonds, most of which are grown in California.
In Australia, almonds have been cultivated since the 1950’s and 60’s but only recently have they been grown in significant numbers. In the late 1990s around 4,000 hectares were planted with almonds, today around 27,000 hectares are under cultivation nationally. The primary commercial areas are located in south-eastern Australia and include the Willunga, Barossa Valley and Riverland areas of South Australia as well as the Riverina in New South Wales and the Sunraysia region. The Sunraysia region accounts for nearly three quarters of Australia’s production.
The Australian almond industry is one of the fastest growing in the world and Australia is now the second largest producer in the world behind California.
The area of current production is 28,900 ha (2010) producing around 40,000 kernal tonnes (2011).By 2015 the area under production is expected to exceed 34,000 ha producing an estimated 85,000 tonnes.
Almonds are Australia’s fastest growing horticultural industry servicing an expanding domestic market and major export markets in India, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the Middle East.
By 2015 Australia’s almond industry will be worth nearly $520 million at the farmgate, with exports accounting for nearly 80% of sales. (Almond Board of Australia)
The almond industry began in South Australia but almonds are now also grown extensively in Victoria and New South Wales.
Most commonly grown varieties are Nonpareil Californian Paper Shell) (51%), Carmel (32%), Price (12%), Peerless and others (5%). These are irrigated by drip irrigation (90%), sprinklers (9%), other (1%)
|
Almond Board of Australia (ABA) |
As the Australian almond industry’s peak industry body, the ABA facilitates further growth of the industry. The ABA seeks to maximise industry profitability and ensure its sustainability, by providing a platform for industry members to collectively respond to industry wide issues, to invest in research and marketing, share knowledge, and interact with government and other stakeholders. Access the website of the Right – Almond Blossom – Courtesy of the Almond Board of Australia
- The Australian Almond Statistics – 2010 Report, produced by Australian Almonds, overviews the industry and includes information on plantings, production, projections and sales.
- The Almond Annual Industry Report (2009-2010), produced by the Almond Board of Australia and focuses on the almond industry and recent developments.
- The Australian Almond Industry Strategic Plan (2007 – 2012), Produced by the Almond Board of Australia.
- Guide to Australian Almonds. Produced by the Almond Board of Australia.|
- Orchard Biosecurity Manual for the Almond Industry (Reducing the risk of exotic and damaging pests
becoming established on your orchard) – (Plant Health Australia) - Almonds (Department of Primary Industries Victoria)
- Managing Crop Recovery After Flooding – Stone Fruits and Almonds (Department of Primary Industries Victoria)
- Almonds ( Primary Industry Resources South Australia)
- A Profile of the South Australian Almond Industry including statistics, structure, location, varieties, value adding, industry issues, markets and industry contacts. ( Primary Industry Resources South Australia)
- All About Australian Almonds – 10 Facts About Australian Almonds (Almond Board of Australia)
Festivals and Exhibitions
- Anuga Food Fair, Cologne, Germany (bi-annual)
- Fruit Logistica (Berlin)
- Gulfood ( Dubai)
- Mallee Almond Blossom Festival
- Willunga Almond Blossom Festival
Cultivation
In cooler climates almonds can be successfully grown if the site is warm and protected from cold wind. For the garden choose a smaller self- fertile variety. Compact size trees are easier to net against birds. A nursery specialising in nut trees should be able to provide you with advice on suitable varieties.
Pollination
The majority of commercial almond cultivars are self-incompatible. They are reliant on the honey bee industry for pollination. Almond growers pay for the location of honeybee hives in almond orchards during the flowering season. Little honey is produced from almond flowers and the honey is dark and has a strong flavour. It is estimated that in 2 – 3 years time, when Australia’s planted orchards come into full production, Australia will need approximately 200,000 hives to service the almond industry. In Australia it has been found around seven hives per hectare in established treesis the optimum hive/hectare ratio (Somerville 2007). Use the following link for a good coverage of information on honeybee pollination of almonds.
- Almond Pollination ( Rural industries Research and Development Corporation)
Harvesting is usually undertaken in February and March. The traditional method is by knocking the almond nuts off by hand and collecting them. Larger plantations use mechanical pickers. Green almonds are available from late October into November.
Varieties
Almonds are categorised into three shell types:
- Paper shell: can be easily rubbed off by hand
- Soft shell: can be easily removed by hand but firmer
- Hard shell: similar to other nuts
The following are popular varities grown in Australia. Prospective growers need to seek expert advice on variety selection to suit varying climate and soil conditions. The primary comercial varieties comprising 95% of Australia’s almond production are:
- Nonpareil (about 1/2 of Australian production)
- Pollinating varieties including, Peerless, Carmel, Price, Neplus and Fritz
Varieties commonly used in the home garden include:
- Hard shell varieties – “Mission”, “Peerless” and “Fritz”
- Soft shell varieties – “Johnston Prolific” and “Brandis Jordan”
- Paper shell varieties – “Nonpareil”, “Ne Plus Ultra” and “IXL”
Health and Nutrition
Almonds are great for vitamin E. 20 nuts (a handful 30g aprox) provides 85% of the recommended daily intake for Vitamin E. See the Health- Almond page for more details. See also the Almond Products and the Almond Recipes pages.
Almond Tree Nurseries
- Bandicoot Nursery (Western Australia)
- Flemings Nurseries (Victoria)
- Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery (Western Australia)
- Sunraysia Nurseries (Western Australia)
Australian Almond Growers
- Almond Investors Limited (AIL) Piangil (approximately 45 km from Swan Hill)
- Century Orchards Pty Ltd Loxton (South Australia)
- Goanna Produce Pty Ltd (ORGANIC CERTIFIED) (Gawler River – South Australia)
- Jubilee Almonds PTy Ltd (Waikerie South Australia)
- Lockhart Almonds (Serviceton, Western Victoria)
- Nut Producers Australia – (Loxton – South Australia)
- Select Harvests (Victoria)
Australian Almond Sales
- Almondco – Renmark (South Australia)
- Carroll Partners – Brighton (Victoria)
- Goanna Produce Pty Ltd (ORGANIC CERTIFIED) (Gawler River – South Australia)
- Laragon – Hulling and Shelling – Lindsay Point (Victoria)
- Lockhart Almonds (Serviceton, Western Victoria)
- Riverland Almonds (Nut Producers Australia) – Loxton (South Australia)
- Select Harvests – Hulling and Shelling – Boundary Bend (Victoria)
Australian Almond Exports
- Almondco – Renmark (South Australia)
- Goanna Produce Pty Ltd (ORGANIC CERTIFIED) (Gawler River – South Australia)
- Riverland Almonds (Nut Producers Australia) – Loxton (South Australia)
- Select Harvests
Additional Information
- Almond Board of Australia
- Almond Orchard Management and Harvesting ( Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food)
Overseas Sites