THE launch of a major new blueberry enterprise targeting premium winter fruit production is set to be a game changer for the Australian industry.
A 300 hectare property at Mundubbera in Queensland’s North Burnett region was chosen for the next multimillion dollar investment by Smart Berries, a company which also has future plans for blackberry and raspberry production.
Smart Berries is a joint venture between two well-known horticultural companies, the Brisbane-based market wholesaler Pascoes and the Fresh Produce Group, a significant player in table grapes involved in growing, wholesaling, importing and exporting.
A Fresh Produce director Anthony Poiner is overseeing the blueberry development at Mundubbera where the first 40ha was established last year with a similar planting going in this winter.
While further stages of expansion were likely, Dr Poiner said there was no set plan for the pace of future development.
“We will be evaluating the performance of the first plantings and their ability to produce good quality fruit will determine our rate of progress,” he said.
While the first plantings would produce marketable quantities of fruit this season, the focus was on encouraging critical early plant development.
The blueberries were expected to reach maturity in about five years when they would yield about 5kg of fruit a season.
Dr Poiner said a key to the new venture has been the licencing of winter-adapted varieties developed over many years under the Early Blue breeding and selection program.
“We’ve been interested in getting into berry production for a few years and have built a good working relationship with Early Blue which is growing our seedlings,” he said.
“Their Australian blueberry breeding program is world class and the supply of new varieties for our venture will be ongoing,” Dr Poiner said.
“We believe there is a great opportunity to complement existing blueberry production by supplying market demand during the winter months.”
“The whole blueberry category has great growth potential with consumption in Australia at only about 30 percent the level in mature markets such as the US and UK.
“And there could be export opportunities down the track.” Dr Poiner said.
“We chose Mundubbera quite deliberately as having the right climate for winter blueberries, good soil drainage, a secure water supply and the good skills base of a mature horticulture region.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the positive local response and the quality of staff we’ve been able to attract to the new enterprise,” Dr Poiner said.
The elevated property free from flooding and with reduced frost risk had grown some grapes and mangos, but was mostly used for grazing.
It is being progressively re-developed from scratch, including irrigation infrastructure and even a power supply.
Dr Poiner said it was anticipated the Mundubbera property could have fruit on the market as early as April or May compared to a major growing region such as Coffs Harbour which started producing from September onwards.
“The blueberries have been our first learning curve for us and we are looking forward to developing the potential for raspberries and blackberries over the next few years,” he said.
Seedstock for both raspberries and blackberries is being sourced from California with some raspberries already planted and blackberry material expected to clear quarantine next year. Ongoing imports are planned.
“The berry industry is very mature in some parts of the world, but we think there are good opportunities for market growth in Australia. The quality of some of our early fruit has been outstanding.”
“We will be evaluating more trial planting sites over the next 12 months from southern Queensland to Tasmania which has great potential,” Dr Poiner said.
The Mundubbera blueberry farm manager is Stewart Mckenzie, an experienced horticulturist who is relishing the challenge of developing a large scale greenfield enterprise.
He said a total of nine varieties were included in initial plantings based on promising trial performance with the orchard developed in 5 hectare blocks.
All production areas are being progressively enclosed in netting spanned about five metres high.
The netting provides hail and bird protection, with the shading effect creating a micro climate which is favourable to plant development.
A big difference was clearly evident with the performance of some of the first blueberries planted before the netting was installed.
Major irrigation and fertigation infrastructure is being progressively developed for precision watering and feeding of each block through fixed drippers.
Water is being drawn from the nearby Boyne river with plans to pipe additional supplies 3km from the Burnett River.
Mr Mckenzie said water was stored on the property in two lined 8ML holding ponds where the quality was closely monitored for alkalinity and salt content.
Crop performance is measured through monthly leaf analysis and soil analysis four times a year.
“It’s important that we have optimal conditions for young plants to develop to reach their full potential,” Mr Mckenzie said.
