Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 26

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

The facility’s 600 kW
install of
1790
solar panels
produces enough energy
to power 86 average
Australian homes annually

The 7280sqm building
includes rainwater
tanks with a combined
capacity of
100,000L
Ripe for The fruit will supply

the picking 270
supermarkets
across Victoria &
INFRASTUCTURE South Australia
Queensland growers collaborate and able to ripen fruit as needed, very best quality bananas, avocados and
with Coles to open a ripening consequently improving shelf life and mangoes to consumers,” he said.
facility for Tropical North fruit. reducing waste. “Our farming families are proud of the
Mackays Marketing CEO Richard Clayton produce they grow and excited to see a
Words: Annabel Bowles said the partnership with Coles will lead reduction of waste produce as we extend
Millennials in the southern states may to a much greater consumption of fresh the shelf life of the fruit.
now be able to afford their antagonised Australian fruit and vegetables across “Australians need to keep their immune
avo on toast thanks to a new $43 million the country. systems strong and there’s no better way
fruit ripening factory for Queensland to do this than a regular diet of fresh fruit
produce.Mackays Marketing recently and vegetables.”
signed a five-year agreement with Coles Group Chief Commercial Officer
Coles to supply the Melbourne-based Greg Davis said the ripening facility would
facility; expected to annually house up Our farming families are help foster generational sustainability for
to 350 million pieces of fruit from North proud of the produce they Tropical North farmers.
Queensland growing regions including “We’re delighted to be supporting
Tully, Lakeland, Innisfail and Mareeba. grow and excited to see a horticulture jobs across Queensland
Largely receiving Tropical North reduction of waste and other growing regions by replacing
favourites like bananas, mangoes and old technology with more sustainable
avocados, the new development will Richard Clayton, alternatives,” he said.
deliver a taste of the tropics to shoppers Mackays Marketing “Bananas are one of the most popular
in Victoria and South Australia. products in our supermarkets, and
Using modern reversible airflow ripening by partnering with key growers and
technology, the solar-powered facility “This project has bought best practice investing in sustainability throughout our
is 70% more energy efficient than ripening technology to Coles and this will supply chain we can continue to offer top-
traditional ‘tarped’ ripening systems help us continue to regularly provide the quality Australian fruit to our customers.”
Delicious local delicacies

Some famed Tropical North producers spot garfish from Kurrimine Beach. Judged
were among Australia’s best growers, by a number of esteemed chefs including
fishers, farmers and artisans in the recent Neil Perry, Danielle Alvarez and Matt Moran,
delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards. the prizes were pinned down to Mungalli
Mungalli Creek Dairy took home a Gold Creek’s commitment to regenerative
Medal for its organic quark, made with agriculture and Chris’ reef-friendly “hook,
biodynamic milk from the family’s farm line and sinker” fishing practices. Local
in the Atherton Tablelands. Chris Bolton sweet tooths Bloomfield Vanilla and Fruit
Fishing was another local award winner, Forest Farm also picked up From The Earth
scoring a From the Sea Trophy for his five Gold Medals in the national competition.

19 • tropicnow.com.au