Rubus Industry

Industry: Rubus Growers

Gross value of production: $0.69 million
Seasonal Labour: 100 people
Current annual production: 175 tonnes
Total Hectares: 25

See also Blueberries

1. Description of Product:

   Fresh and processed fruit: Raspberries, Red & Black Currants, English Gooseberries, Blackberries and hybrids.

2. Location of the Industry:

   There are at least 9 farms in the region located at Oxley, Myrtleford, Whitfield, Redbank, Mansfield, Running Creek, Stanley, Smoko and at Tallangatta.

   Fruit is picked for fresh fruit market (4 farms), processing (2 farms) and most farms operate as a Pick Your Own facility with one farm operating as a Host farm.

   There is one specialist organic grower.

3. Harvest Requirements:

   Harvest season is broadly from November to June in the North East. The industry harvest labour is estimated to be 90-100 people.

4. Annual Production:

   There is currently a total of 25ha under berry production with farm variation from 0.1 to 10ha. The average yield is 7 tonnes/ha. 30.8 tonne of fresh fruit is produced annually. 105 tonne of fruit for processing and approximately 38.5 tonne is produced for Pick Your Own and Host Farm.

5. Value of Product:

   Pick Your Own product sells for $3.80-$6.00/kg. Fresh Fruit - $6.00/kg. Processed Fruit - $2.65 - $3.65/kg. Specialist Organic $6.00/kg.

Extracted from the Bright Report