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 INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
The NSW cut flower industry has an estimated value
of over to $200 million at the "farm gate" climbing to
an estimated $500 million at retail level and is a part of a worldwide
industry worth an estimated US$7 billion in 2000.
In the Sydney region, where the industry first
began and is still concentrated, the main centres of flower production
are the Hills District, Horsley Park - Leppington and the Central
Coast. Other production centres include the coastal strip from north
coast right down to the far south coast, the Southern Highlands
and inland area around Mildura.
In the Sydney region, the climate enables a wide
range of flower crops to be grown. Most growers produce more than
one type of flower crop. Species grown for their flowers and foliage
include a very wide range of traditional flowers like roses, carnations,
chrysanthemums and other crops like gerberas, lilies, asters, statice,
freesias, poppies, baby's breath and alstromeria. Australian native
species like waratah, kangaroo paw and NSW Christmas bush as well
as assorted proteas (native to South Africa) are also grown. Growers
tend to specialise in either traditional crops or natives/proteas.
Unlike many other horticultural crops, demand
for fresh flowers is related to fashion trends. Proximity to Sydney's
huge population allows the industry to cater for a broad range of
clients. Our growing multicultural population has seen an increased
use of flowers for festive occasions like Chinese New Year and Orthodox
Easter celebrations. Fresh Flowers play a unique role in our
lives, both in celebration and sorrow. They are a gift for
most occasions from a "thank you", "thinking of you",
"sorry" and "congratulations" to "I love
you".
New flower lines and cultivars are being introduced
all the time, be it new colours or shapes of traditional flowers
like roses and chrysanthemums or new crops like flannel flower.
Other lines are associated with a particular season like stock for
winter and spring and berries for autumn.
Commercial flower growing is a labour intensive
and technically challenging business. The industry has an important
role in providing employment and recycles waste products from other
industries like poultry, dairy and mushroom production. About one
third of crops are now grown in greenhouses while the balance is
field grown. In recent years, growers have invested in new growing
technologies. These include greenhouses with associated climate
control, new growing media, and hydroponic systems (soil less culture).
Many growers produce technically more challenging crops like lisianthus
and lilies or cultivate chrysanthemum and bulb crops out of season.
Postharvest treatments are used to extend the vase life of many
species.
Most of the flowers produced are sold in the Sydney
Flower Market. There are also several major fresh flower exporters
located in Sydney and nearby. A number of growers produce exclusively
for the export market, targeting growing markets in Japan, South
East Asia and North America.
The industry is well supported with specialist
training in Horticulture and Floristry offered at several tertiary
institutions in the Sydney region.
Information courtesy of Bettina Gollnow, Development
Officer Floriculture - NSW Department of Primary Industries (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au)
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