Marron farming in Western Australia: scope and constraints

Abstract

PurposeMarron farming in Western Australia has existed for decades. However, to what extent do marron growers see potential in this industry in ways that include expanding into hospitality and tourism? The purpose of this paper is to examine this dimension from a group of 26 marron growers.Design/methodology/approachThe limited knowledge on marron farming from an academic, industry, as well as from operators' perspective is a critical factor in choosing a qualitative approach in this paper in the form of telephone and face‐to‐face interviews.FindingsOverall, there is an agreement among respondents about the significant commercial potential of marron farming. However, the dilemma of satisfying increasing demand for marron is acknowledged, as well as resulting problems, for instance, in the form of greed and lack of unity among some growers.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the low number of respondents may not be sufficient to make generalisations of the marron farming industry, this paper proposes an overview into an unexplored industry, and provides useful insights into a niche market.Practical implicationsIncreased demand for marron in both national and international markets presents opportunities for local operators and the future of marron farming. At the same time, a balance must be maintained in order to preserve natural resources and the industry's sustainability.Originality/valueDespite its demand and potential, to date very limited research has been conducted on marron farming, particularly studying the links between marron, hospitality and tourism, as well as marron growers' points of views on this industry. This exploratory paper contributes to narrowing the existing knowledge gap on these dimensions.