onions

The onion season in Tasmania is finishing this year with high-yielding, quality crops, the ABC reports.

Tasmanian-based onion exporter, Field Fresh, has shipped the first of its 40,000-tonne harvest to Europe and Japan. As the company’s crops are harvested, grading and packing is currently well under way.

Field Fresh’s marketing manager John Hosken has reported that this growing season has seen drier weather and higher returns compared to the past two.

These factors are assisting growers and exporters in combating rising costs of production and the high Australian dollar that is dissuading foreign consumers from buying Australian produce.

'I think Tasmania can continue to have a vibrant onion industry,” Hosken told the ABC.

'Although it may not be the highest paying crop it does play a significant role and certainly our company has battled through difficult trading conditions, particularly as we're very much focused on export.'