19 Jul 2013

Higher truffle production predicted in WA

8:47 am on 19 July 2013

Truffle growers in Western Australia are on track to harvest record yields this season.

It is only halfway through their harvesting season but producers are predicting an increase of 30% on last year.

Manjimup Wine and Truffle Co chief executive Gavin Booth expects to produce more than four tonnes of the fungus.

"We've got about 1.8 tonnes of saleable truffle," he said. "I anticipate that to double, so we should get around 4.4 tonne."

The ABC reports the company supplies more than 100 restaurants in Perth but almost 90% of its produce is sold overseas.

However, the rise in production in WA is not mirrored in other states.

Australian Truffle Growers Association president Anne Mitchell said the industry in Victoria is in decline.

The ABC reports the Australian truffle industry is the fourth highest producer of French black truffles behind France, Spain and Italy.