Chinese jujube industry takes root in Western Australia

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) trees have grown successfully in Australia for 20 years and the industry is developing steadily. The tree is well adapted to Australia's climate and soil types, growing in a range of areas. Western Australia is currently Australia's leading jujube producing state with an estimated 12500 trees planted on approximately 20 ha. The jujube's drought and salinity tolerance, easy management and multiple uses indicates considerable potential for many areas of the state. In Western Australia, there are approximately 40 jujube growers in the Perth Hills, the Northern Rangelands and the South West region. Plantings of jujube trees have increased in Western Australia in the last three years as awareness of the crop increases. Chinese jujubes have also been successfully grown in the eastern states of Australia in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Demand for the fruits continues to outweigh supply on the local market. Western Australia's proximity to South-East Asia and its counter season production to the northern hemisphere provides a future opportunity to market Australian grown fresh Chinese jujube for the increasing off-season demand in these countries. The jujube industry in Australia has the potential to be a new profitable agricultural business to meet the requirements of domestic and overseas markets. The development of a jujube industry will be beneficial in fighting salinity and water shortages which are challenges facing sustainable agriculture in Australia.