Horticulture

Agricultural diversity plays an important part in the stability of the Bundaberg Coral Coast.

The region's fruit and vegetable industry was valued at $190 million in the year 2001 and remains one of the region's largest single employers.

Orchard crops have grown steadily with significant investments made in avocados, mangoes, citrus, macadamia nuts, bananas, lychees and custard apples.

Major production crops include:

Perennial Crops
Avocado	Custard Apple
Mango	Lychee
Citrus	Passionfruit
Macadamia Nut	Peach
Banana	Pineapple
Nectarine
Annual crops
Tomato	Chilli
Capsicum	Cherry Tomato
Zucchini	Chinese Bitter Melon
Rockmelon	Watermelon
Sweet Potato	Herbs
Cucumber	Okra
Eggplant	Button Squash
Bean	Snow Peas
Potato	Sweet Corn
Pumpkin

There are currently about 450 fruit and vegetable producers in the region supplying the domestic markets of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Many of these producers are directly or indirectly involved in exports and value-adding of fruit and vegetables. There are a number of major fruit and vegetable packing and distribution operations in the region.

Product availability research identifies that several types of rural produce have been increasing in output volume over several years. This research suggests that the following crops have the potential to continue to increase in production volume and may represent processing opportunities: