Articles
THE AUSTRALIAN APRICOT INDUSTRY
Apricots contributed $A17 m (6.5%) to this amount.
Due to the specific climatic requirements of apricots, the production is mainly concentrated along the Murray river, in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, under irrigation.
Between 1950 and 1980 the area of apricots declined from 3 600 ha to 2 800 ha.
However, because of improved technology, total production was maintained at about 30 000 t.
Of this amount about 20 000 t is used for drying and 5 000 t for canning.
The rest is sold mainly as fresh fruit.
New technology has been developed in several areas of orchard management.
However, it seems that the major factors in the development of the industry will be the availability of improved varieties, the adoption of practices which will reduce biennial bearing, and the mechanisation of harvesting and drying.
Another important development is the increasing use of high density planting systems, which encourage early cropping and high yields.
There seems to be a potential for expansion of the market for fresh and dry apricots.
With fresh fruit, additional demand may be generated by supplying high quality fruit and extending the season with early and late varieties.
There is also scope to send such fruit overseas during off season.
With dried apricots, realisation of the potential