Overview of horticultural industry

• The fruit sector in Tasmania is dominated by the apple industry, having a gross value of $55.5 million in 2001/02.
• Most tree fruit production occurs in southern Tasmania, though smaller areas are to be found in the Tamar and Mersey valleys.
• The vegetable sector is also a strong contributor to the economy, especially in the north of the State.
• The majority of vegetable crops are produced in the high rainfall, high fertility areas of the north-west, Meander and north-east of Tasmania. In recent years, there has been some movement into the drier north of the State where irrigation is available.
• Potatoes are the major vegetable crop grown in Tasmania, with the majority of crops being  grown primarily along the north-west coast.
• About 80% of potatoes are grown for processing.
• Onions are the second most valuable vegetable crop after potatoes in terms of contribution to the Tasmanian economy. Onions were first exported from Tasmania in 1971.
• Most onion production occurs on the red ferrous soils in the north-west, and similarly fertile soils in the north-east of the State.
• Most vegetables are produced under contract for processing.

Tasmanian Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions
Across Australia, 56 NRM regions have been identified. Each state has been broken into a number of regions – in Tasmania there are 3 regions in total.

Each of these regions has an NRM committee whose responsibility it is to co-ordinate natural resource management in each of the three regions.

Key contacts
There are a number of other community groups and organisations in Tasmania that aim to improve natural resource management at the farm, catchment and regional level.

There are also a number of Australian Government facilitators who work at a state level, and have a detailed understanding of NRM policy and programs. The Australian Government facilitators foster activities that fall within the Bushcare, Landcare, Coastcare and Rivercare themes.

Incentives
A range of incentives are available to primary producers to assist with natural resource management projects such as on-ground works (fencing, revegetation) and implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS).