Market Opportunities

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Horticulture​ Statistics Handbook​​​

The annual Horticulture Statistics ​​Handbook​​ produced by ​Horticulture Innovation Australia provides data on market size, value, structure and consumption of horticulture crops in Australia. It covers 74 horticultural categories including all fruit, vegetable, nuts and amenity crops.  This information provides the most accurate view available through the Australian fresh market wholesale value and volume for each category.  

The workshop material below remains relevant to those seeking to develop successful fresh food supply chains. Use these tools with the information gathered from the latest annual Horticulture Handbook. 

Market Profiles - Information Sheets​​

Preliminary market research has been conducted on the enterprises that are part of the enterprise suitability mapping. This work provides an initial overview of such issues as current markets, consumer buying trends, market outlook, and potential future markets.

 Barley Profile (last updated October 2011) (PDF 209Kb)

 Blueberry Profile (updated March 2014) (PDF 527Kb)

 Carrot Profile (last updated May 2014) (PDF 836Kb)

 Carrot Seed Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 158Kb)

 Cherry Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 518Kb)

 Hazelnut Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 474Kb)

 Hemp Profile (last updated July 2011) (PDF 147Kb)

 Linseed Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 286Kb)

 Lucerne Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 605Kb)

 Olives Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 273Kb)

 Onion Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 343Kb)

 Poppy Profile (last updated October 2011) (PDF 167Kb)

 Potato Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 426Kb)

 Raspberry Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 762Kb)

 Strawberry Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 981Kb)

 Wheat Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 223Kb)

 Wine Profile (Updated March 2014) (PDF 306Kb)

Business Structures

There are a number of possible business structures for a farming enterprise. The most common ones are corporations/companies, partnerships, cooperatives and joint ventures. This section currently contains information provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

The following information is reproduced with permission from work provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

 Business Structures (PDF 239Kb)

​Alternative Business Structures​​

The Tasmanian vegetable industry is facing a period of structural adjustment. 

Industry sources report that the vegetable farming sector is likely to shift business structures over the next few years, resulting in: 

  • fewer and larger businesses 

  • cooperative or leasing arrangements with smaller growers

These changes are happening because of ongoing requirements to produce food cheaply. A good way to do this is by taking advantage of economies of scale. Economies of scale describe spreading of overhead (fixed) costs across additional land or vegetables produced.

A series of information sheets have been produced for vegetable growers to help evaluate opportunities to improve profit through increasing economies of scale, leasing and/or collective marketing

It is important to seek professional advice on choosing the correct business structure that will take into account personal situations, existing and anticipated business activities, future objectives, costs, and the taxation and legal implications.

Increasing Productivity (2.19 MB)

A New Business Structure - the options and benefits (1.51 MB)

Collaborative Business Models (1014 KB)

Collective Marketing - selling vegetables profitably (1.19 MB)

Land Leasing (997 KB)

Legal Business Structures (1.67 MB)

Excel calculator:

An excel calculator (scale of vegetable production - profit calculator) has also been developed to allow a rapid assessment for options to improve economies of scale.

  Scale of Vegetable Production - Profit Calculator   (28Kb)

Additional Tools​

There are a number of tools available that can assist you in understanding markets and making more informed decisions including:

  • Harvest to Home
    This site provides latest information​ on market commodities and where market opportunities may be available.

  • FOODmap​
    This work was prepared for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by Freshlogic. This report considers the whole food supply chain, from production to processing, imports to exports, to the retail and food service sectors. The report builds on 2007's FOODmap by taking a deeper look into product flows, the effects of international trade, consumer behaviour, supply chain pressure points, food security, and the issues facing the food processing sector.  It was last revised in July 2012.​​

More information​

Business Tasmania
Freecall: 1800 440 026​​