North Queensland fruit processor goes bananas for retail ready products

Bananas which are good quality but outside market size specification will be sliced, diced and packaged ready for retail shelves when the final piece of Tully-based Mackays Produce Solutions’ (MPS’) expansion project is completed with support from a Queensland Government grant. MPS is a division of the Mackay Farming Group (MFG).

MFG, also known as Mackays, is a fourth-generation, family run agribusiness which this year is celebrating 75 years of producing bananas, sugar cane and cattle into the Tully district on the Cassowary Coast.

Mackays are one of 15 businesses to receive a grant of up to $250,000 under Round Three of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant program which is administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

Chief Financial Officer Fiona Nicotra said the funding would be used to carry out the third stage of their fruit processing facility expansion.

“The first stage of the expansion involved the purchase and commissioning of an Individual quick freezing machine, that delivers a superior frozen product by freezing it instantly,” Ms Nictora said.

“Stage two of the project includes the development of a puree line, to safely turn whole bananas into a marketable puree form.

“This project is stage three, which is the purchase of specialised equipment for slicing and pouch packing frozen fruit to produce a retail ready pack.”

The decision to expand Mackays current fruit processing facility was to meet consumer demand for the frozen products.

“The development of this line also enables MPS to explore wider markets both domestically and internationally, through an improved capability to deliver high volume orders,” Ms Nicotra said.

The Tully region is expected to benefit greatly from this expansion project providing greater economic development and new employment opportunities.

“The Tully region will benefit directly from the project with approximately $250,000 returned to growers within the first three years through the sale of product that would otherwise be dumped,” Ms Nicotra said.

“Employment opportunities will continue to increase as capacity increases. There is also the opportunity to process other lines including papaya, avocado and mango.”

The project is expected to create up to 50 direct and indirect jobs during and post construction.

The Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants program offers emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions to build industry and grow employment opportunities across the agricultural sector. The $10 million grants program provides for three funding rounds over a three-year period ending 2021.

A total of 15 businesses have received $3.14 million under the third round of funding for the RED Grants program. Overall, these projects are expected to create more than 600 jobs across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland.

Across the three rounds of the RED Grant program, a total of 43 agricultural businesses have received funding toward economic development projects worth $40.8 million and estimated to create 1,897 new direct and indirect jobs over the lifetime of these projects.

QRIDA offers a range of assistance to primary producers, small business and non-profit organisations. To find out what’s available visit Programs and Services.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.