Australian blueberries

Australian banana producers in New South Wales (NSW) are diversifying into blueberry crops due to their higher economic returns.

The industry has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, with The Border Mail reporting that its market value has risen from approximately $27m (US$27.8m) in 2005 to $87m (US$89.7m) in 2012.

The north coast of NSW has expanded to produce 88 per cent of the rapidly growing blueberry production in Australia.

It has provided an ideal source of income for a region that had struggled with the competition from Queensland’s banana production, generating an estimated $18m (US$18.6m) annually according to The Border Mail.

The growth of the industry has also supplied greater job opportunities in farms, greenhouses and packing houses.

The Australian blueberry industry first commenced in Victoria in the mid-1970s but commercial growing did not gain momentum until varieties from Florida were adapted to suit warmer climates.

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