Organics the way of the future for Mackay group

A shift in consumer trends, including the fast growth of organic banana markets in the US, is leading the family-run business to organics.

Mackays Bananas Cameron Mackay said the business was currently exploring options to convert some of the operations to organic production.

We're in the process now of taking a look at plant lines and our growing areas and seeing how we can grow organic, he said.

The family have been established in the Tully region for 72 years. Mr Mackays grandfather began the business which is now run by Mr Mackay, his two brothers, and two cousins.

They operate under three names the Mackay Farming Group, Mackay Produce Solutions, and Mackays Banana Marketing.

They market about one third of Australias bananas, but Mr Mackay said it was unlikely that theyd attempt to grow organic bananas at their home base in Tully.

In the Tully Valley it is difficult with our high rainfall and high humidity it is a challenge, he said.

It's achievable - there are organics grown in the wet tropics very, very well, but for our business we're looking at the fringes in our Lakeland and Bundaberg farms to be able to grow in those areas.

Both of those are under one metre rainfall, both around the 900mm mark, which certainly assists in disease control.

Mr Mackay said it was not only bananas they would look at converting to organics with no lines ruled out.

Well look at the bananas, avocados, and papaya, he said.

Being tropical fruits, except for the avocado, its certainly an area were looking at for organic growth.

We think the conversation won't take too much and we're in the process of converting some of it over to organic.

We just have a couple of little things we need to deal with to make sure we can still offer the same product as we are offering in our conventional line.