Celery Growth and Production in Australia (2020)

Celery is one of the highest yielding vegetable crops in Western Australia and is usually grown from transplants produced by specialist seedling nurseries. It is a shallow-rooted crop with high fertiliser and moisture requirements. At times, many people develop skin allergies to celery. This is why rubber gloves should be worn when handling them.

Western Australia is practically self-sufficient in celery, with small quantities brought from interstate in summer. Most of it comes from outer metropolitan locations on the Swan Coastal Plain as far south as Bunbury, with some from the lower South West and South Coast. Celery is grown from transplants that are almost exclusively grown by specialist seedling nurseries.

Under cultivation, celery is grown as an annual vegetable and is harvested before the plants ‘bolt’ into flowers and stalks become pithy and soft. Under cold conditions (4 to 13°C for more than 10 days in the seedling stage), May to July plantings in the Perth area may bolt in spring. These crops will not be suitable for marketing unless harvested early at a smaller bunch size.

Statistics of Celery

For the year ending June 2020:

1. 61,531 tonnes were produced and valued at $74.1 million, with 1% sent to processing.
2. The wholesale value of the fresh supply was $78.2 million, with $63.6 million distributed into retail and $14.6 million into food service.
3. 48% of Australian households purchased celery, buying an average of 873 grams of celery per shopping trip.
4. The supply per capita was 2.2 kg, based on the volume supplied.

Production Areas

Some of the major celery growing regions in Australia are Stanthorpe, Dandenong and Perth.

International Trade

Australia is a net exporter of celery, with exports growing in recent years. For the year ending June 2020, Australia exported 5,132 tonnes. Additionally, for the year ending June 2020, 41% of exports were sent to Malaysia.

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