http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/05/13/186631_horticulture.html

Citrus bud sales soar

Sandra Godwin
May 13, 2010

CITRUS growers continue to favour traditional varieties, judging by the latest bud sales figures from Auscitrus.

The national citrus budwood and seed supplier has sold 511,733 buds so far this financial year, 8 per cent more than in 2008-09.

Auscitrus manager Tim Herrmann said overall sales were still down on the 10-year rolling average which was boosted from 2002 to 2005 by strong sales during planting of the northwest NSW juicing development and at large corporate developments in southern growing regions.

"The top-10 sellers were mostly the same as in previous years, with the traditional varieties remaining popular," Mr Herrmann said.

Washington navel orange (55,795 buds, up 5.5 per cent) has overtaken imperial mandarin (53,300, down 26 per cent) as the top seller, while the keenan valencia orange (50,340, up 253 per cent) has burst into the top three.

Demand for eureka lemons has doubled to 46,040 buds, but the common salustiana orange, benyenda valencia orange and common pineapple orange have dropped out of the top 10.

The figures do not include privately-owned varieties.

Mr Herrmann said production of some minor retail varieties had increased up to three-fold through additional plantings, to try to beat a shortage, but demand had continued to rise faster than production.

He has issued a warning to retail nurseries that only limited supplies of eyles and nathaneal kaffir limes, lemonade and meyer lemon buds will be available in spring. But after pruning, autumn supplies should be good, he said.