The largest blueberry enterprise in the Clarence Valley is being offered to international investors as a walk-in deal.
The company’s founder, Harjap Singh Dosanjh, says he and his financial support, Luigi Aquilini of Vancouver Canada, are confident that now is the right time to sell, given the boost in rural land prices over the past four years, during which time Golden Eagle established as its own recognised brand.
The old abattoir at Grafton was bought as a packing shed, and more recently a robotic sorting and packing machine installed.
The company farms 120ha harvesting four varieties all from its Clarenza property, which has its own dam and irrigation capable of covering 72ha. Golden Eagle also bought 1700ha on the Old Glen Innes Road, and have cleared and prepared 120ha of former Spotted Gum timber country ready-to-plant. There is water access from the Orara River.
Blueberry bushes at the Clarenza farm are robust and yield well – 3000 plants per hectare produced 4.5kg each in their second season – with four varieties including some of the best flavours developed by industry founder Ridley Bell.
Mr Singh, 39, who was bred on a Woolgoolga banana farm by Punjabi parents, and who started on his own with an acre of blueberries, says he personally is frustrated with the lack of export opportunity right now and has eyes on a future in the Brisbane Valley where there is jet plane access to Asia through Wellcamp.
“I think this industry moving forward needs to focus on diversity and be less dependent on blueberries,” he admitted, nodding towards rapidly expanding enterprises like avocados and macadamia nuts.
As for the Golden Eagle’s large developed landholding on sandy soil west of Grafton, Harj said much mor e than blueberries could be grown there, including raspberries and blackberries, lychees, and citrus.
Mr Singh pointed out that in the current climate, the North Coast is never in drought for long. The Clarenza farm received more than 100mm in December at the same time the Orara flooded from rain on the Dorrigo.
Expressions of interest through Colliers International close February 15. Visit www.colliers.com.au/goldeneagle