Dried Grapes Production in Australia (2019)

Overview

Raisins are a type of grape that has been dried for around three weeks. Grapes darken as they dry, which gives raisins their dark brown colour. A range of grape varieties is used to make raisins. The size, taste and colour depend on the type of fruit that is used. This fruit is primarily meant to be dried are grown in Victoria and New South Wales. Moreover, Sunraysia is also a major producing area. Some of the main varieties of this fruit are dried and sold are sultanas, currants and raisins.

Difference between Raisins, Sultanas and Currants

1. In Australia, raisins are made exclusively from larger grape varieties including Muscat, Lexia and Waltham Cross, and are often larger than sultanas for this reason.
2. Raisins are dark in colour, have a soft texture, a sweet flavour and are typically larger than sultanas and currants.
3. Raisins are dark in colour, have a soft texture, a sweet flavour and are typically larger than sultanas and currants.
4. Unlike raisins, sultanas are typically coated in an oil-based solution prior to drying to speed up the process. For this reason, they are often lighter in colour than raisins and currants.
5. Currants, also known as “Zante currants,” are tiny, dried fruits. Despite their name, currants are actually made by drying a variety of small, seedless grapes called “Black Corinth” and “Carina.”
6. Currants are dried for up to three weeks. Due to their small size, they have a sweet, tangy and intense flavour and add texture and sweetness to both sweet and savoury dishes.

Statistics

As of June 2019:

1. Approximately 68,186 tonnes of fresh grapes were grown with an aim of drying them. After the drying process was completed, 15,248 tonnes of grapes remained.
2. The value of the freshly produced grapes were $29.2 million, while the wholesale value amounted to $109.1 million,
3. The supply per capita of this fruit was 1.22 kg, based on the volume that was supplied.

Major Dried Grapes Production Area

The majority of this fruit is produced in Victoria, mainly in the Sunraysia region. Also, table grapes are heavily grown in the Mildura region along with the Murray and Darling Rivers, located south-west of New South Wales.

Processed Dried Grapes International Trade

As of June 2019, Australia imported approximately 20,817 tonnes of this popular fruit.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)