Australian garlic growers are introducing late season varieties in a staggered harvest in an effort to supply the local market for longer.

Garlic grower Kirsten Jones shows off some new season produce on her property in Mirboo, South Gippsland. ( ABC Rural: Bridget Fitzgerald )

As harvest begins across Victoria, South Gippsland garlic grower Kirsten Jones said the industry was focussed on increasing production.

Ms Jones and her husband David classified themselves as medium-sized producers.

The couple farm on just have an acre on their 10 acre property at Mirboo.

But Ms Jones, who is also the deputy chair of the Australian Garlic Industry Association, said despite the fact that many garlic growers are small to medium sized farmers, national production was growing.

"There are especially a lot of young people interested in growing garlic," she said.

"There's a lot of interest in garlic because it's a very popular food and people seem to have a bit of a fascination with it."

Ms Jones said she and many other industry association members were seeking to grow alternative varieties to extend the local season, and supply Australian product over a longer period of time.

"As a group we're trying to focus on selecting varieties we haven't grown much before," she said

"[Then we can] provide garlic for the public over the winter months, so we don't have to import garlic anymore."

Ms Jones said the Australian garlic harvest began in southern Queensland in September and then the later, cold climate Tasmanian varieties could harvest into January.

But she said there were also growers across South Australia and Western Australia, which might be able to fill supply gaps.

"There's quite a wide variety of [harvest] timing," she said.

Local product growing to compete with imports

A garlic crop in Mirboo in South Gippsland, Victoria. ( ABC Rural: Bridget Fitzgerald )

Australian Garlic Industry Association chair and Jack River garlic grower Leon Trembath said there had been significant growth in the industry lately.

The industry association has doubled in membership in the past two years.

Mr Trembath said the industry "peaked 20 years ago".

But he said cheap imports came close to wiping out the local industry.

"They came from China, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina," he said.

"[Imports] saw the slow decimation of the industry."

"We came close to just nine [industry] members only a few years ago, but we're slowly building up and we're almost 200 members."

Mr Trembath agreed with Ms Jones that growers were also set on growing different varieties to increase availability.

"With a bigger variety in the season and in different climates, we can have garlic all year round," he said.

"But we need to coordinate that better."