Chestnuts The COOL Nut Keep ‘ em Cool – Keep ‘ em Fresh! Tanya Edwards
Presentation Focus • Industry • Challenges • The Good Stuff • Education
Industry
Industry • The Australian chestnut industry operates principally in the southern states of Australia
Industry • Approximately 70% of the national crop is grown in north-east Victoria • The main varieties grown are Red Spanish, I Purtons Pride and De Coppi Marone • Many chestnut orchards are small family-owned orchards, but there are several large-scale commercial plantings, and the average size of new orchards is increasing
Industry • Chestnuts flower during November and December • Chestnuts are harvested from March though May
Industry • In 2018, chestnut production was valued (farm gate) at $9.4 million based on a production of 1,100 tonnes. • In 2018 the industry comprised around 250,000 chestnut trees grown on approximately 1,500 hectares. • The industry estimates that with more trees being planted, farm gate value will increase to approximately $12 million by 2021.
Industry • The industry is primarily focused on the domestic market with approximately 2% exported, mainly to Asian markets. • Production, based on a 2-year average, is about 1,200 tonnes a year of fresh chestnuts. (2017 - 1,300 tonnes and 2018 - 1,100 tonnes.) • Chestnut production is expected to increase to 1,400 tonnes by 2021 as young orchards come into production.
The Good Stuff
The Good Stuff
The Good Stuff • Most growers sell their crop through the fresh wholesale markets and sales are satisfied by domestic production. • A few growers have delved into value adding – frozen peeled chestnuts, chestnut meal, flour, puree and more recently cooked and peeled vac packed chestnuts • These value-added products are now being successfully marketed locally and overseas and have the potential to expand the overall market for chestnuts.
The Good Stuff • Australia’s pest -free status means chestnuts are produced without insecticides. • The Australian chestnut industry is consumer focused and the latest tree varieties being selected are based on ease of peeling and superior flavour.
Challenges
Challenges Chestnuts The COOL Nut Keep ‘ em Cool – Keep ‘ em Fresh!
Challenges
Challenges • Chestnut Blight - currently under an EPPRD Eradication program • Internal Nut Rot - difficult to detect • Phytophthora - loss of trees
Challenges
Education
Education • Education about our product is key for our success. • To assist growers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers on how to handle chestnuts the industry I has invested quite a lot of resources to educate the supply chain and promote purchases of fresh chestnuts • Providing beautifully illustrated recipes that consumers can use in everyday meals, we like to say, “make everyday meals special with chestnuts”.
Make everyday meals special with Chestnuts
Education Welcome to the first Australian Chestnut Retailer E-Newsletter. You're receiving this email as we understand you buy or sell Australian chestnuts when they are in season. Our goal this season is to produce a quality crop and keep you well informed on how the chestnut season is progressing. We will be sharing five newsletters with fabulous chestnut content to promote on your business website, newsletters and social media platforms. You will also have access to stunning free point-of-sale material plus loads of tips and hints to help you sell more chestnuts this season and encourage your customers to go nuts for chestnuts!
Education
Education
Questions
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