Carrots were the major fresh vegetable export in 2013-14, growing to $159 million. Onions and shallots were the second largest, followed by potatoes and asparagus. Onions and shallots increased by 1 per cent in 2013-14 to $28 million, while potato exports fell by 20 per cent to $19 million. Asparagus exports increased by 4 per cent to $17 million.

In 2013-14, 59 per cent of frozen vegetable exports were prepared potatoes. Prepared potatoes were worth $14 million in 2013-14, down by 16 per cent from 2012-13. The other major frozen vegetables were sweet corn worth $2.7 and an increase of 84%.

Processed vegetable exports declined by 15 per cent to $37 million in 2013-14. This was driven by a large decline in vegetable juice exports from $14 million to $10 million. Similarly, tomato sauce products fell 3% to $4.0 million. Vegetable juices remained the largest processed vegetable export at 28% of the segment.

Vegetable and potato seed were the main other vegetable products exported, accounting for 89% of that category in 2013-14, valued at $33 million. Overall, the total value of other vegetable exports increased to $37 million. There was substantial two-way trade in vegetable seeds with imports more than three times the exports in 2013-14.

In summary, exports continued to be dominated by fresh vegetables in 2013-14 but export performance had been lacklustre in recent years, with only recent signs of improvement. There had been little change in the relative importance of fresh vegetable exports with carrots dominant and onions, potatoes and asparagus significant. These four vegetables accounted for 75% of fresh vegetable exports in 2013-14 and 47% of total vegetable exports.

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Economic activities in the vegetable industry are funded by Hort Innovation, using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned,
not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.