Industries

This page provides information on industries within the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Region. For further information on a specific industry please visit the Industries and Markets section.

Fleurieu Peninsula

Diversified agriculture and viticulture provide a large part of the region's income. Conversion of traditional beef and sheep properties to various forms of horticulture is a major trend. Other growth crops include wine grapes, olives, vegetables and berries.

Milk provides more than 40 per cent of the region's gross value of agricultural production with sheep, pig and poultry meat contributing another 20 per cent. The bulk of South Australia's late (January) lamb production comes from the Fleurieu. Crops grown include barley, wheat, oats, lucerne, potatoes and vegetables. Other produce includes apples, pears, almonds and strawberries.

Langhorne Creek wine region and, to a lesser extent, Currency Creek wine region , Victor Harbor and Yankalilla (Southern Fleurieu Wine Region) are areas of significant growth in viticulture. At Langhorne Creek, strong demand for local wine processing facilities has led to the establishment of several new grape-crushing plants in an attempt to reduce transport time and costs. Some of the larger wineries also have plans to establish bottling facilities in the region.

An olive crushing and bottling facility has been established at Mount Compass to capitalise on the region's ongoing expansion of olive tree plantations. The olive industry and its associated value-added products represent significant potential for the region.

Adelaide Hills

Traditionally the Adelaide Hills has been a producer of apples, pears, cherries and a wide range of vegetables. The cool climate and high rainfall makes it a prime location for the production of apples, pears, cherries and cool climate grape varieties. The region also supports a thriving market garden industry that produces cabbages, cauliflowers, brussel sprouts, leeks just to name a few.

Northern Adelaide Plains

There is approximately 20,000 ha agricultural land in the area with approximately 1,200 growers who directly employ around 3,000 people. The area supports both field and greenhouse production of vegetables with about 700 hectares of the states 720 hectares of greenhouses located at Virginia on the Adelaide Plains. This includes about 5 large producers with a total of about 22 hectares of high-technology hydroponic tomato greenhouses and 5 producers with a total of about 10 hectares of hydroponic lettuce under shadecloth. The remaining 630 greenhouses are low to medium technology glasshouses or polyhouses (each about 150 metres square each). About 30% of these producers have >40 houses, 40% have 20-40 houses and 30% have <20 houses. The average 5 acre (2.1 hectare) property has 30-40 houses each.

Barossa

Viticulture and winemaking are major components of the Barossa economy, and both are currently experiencing strong growth. Production from other agricultural industries – fruit, grain, meat, livestock, and associated manufacturing and service industries - add substantially to income generated from winemaking.

Key external links for further information

Link icon Fleurieu Food - Links to producers, market information and value adding industries

Link icon Langhorne Creek Wine Industry Council - Wine region information

Link icon Currency Creek Wine Region - Wine region information

Link icon Adelaide Hills Food - Links to producers, market information and value adding industries

Link icon Food Barossa - Links to producers, market information and value adding industries

Link icon Barossa Wine - Wine region information