Workforce doubled under new fruit, veggie accelerator project

A Bundaberg fruit and vegetable farm will be able to accelerate its production by 400% through new infrastructure thanks to grant funding from the Queensland Government.  

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said Swan Ridge Farms, at Meadowvale, was one 15 businesses in Queensland to receive up to a $250,000 RED Grant to help fund the expansion of their business and create job growth in regional areas.

“Swan Ridge Farms already supplies more than 1.5 million kilograms of capsicum, rockmelon, watermelon, and zucchinis ever year to both the domestic wholesale and New Zealand domestic markets but the project will increase supply by 400%,” Mr Furner said. 

“When complete, the project will double the workforce. At least three people will be employed during the construction process, 12 full-time roles will be created as well as 37 in-direct jobs.” 

Manager Brent Attard said some of the roles included including truck drivers, fork lift operators, cardboard machine operators, refrigeration owners and operators, designers for packaging services, packing services, sorting, grading, value adding produce, marketing and promotion. 

“We are a vibrant family owned and operated farm, based in the diverse and rapidly expanding "food bowl" of the Wide Bay-Burnett,” Mr Attard said. 

“Our vision is to significantly expand our current production to tap into emerging export opportunities, create long-term, reliable employment for local people in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, and to continue to be a regionally significant stakeholder in production horticulture. 

“This project is a game changer, drastically improving how our produce is processed post-harvest and how we manage produce supply, and our employees.” 

The project involves plans to expand and fit-out a purpose-built, post-harvest handling facility, creating long-term skilled employment opportunities, skill acquisition and capacity building opportunities specific to horticulture and post-harvest handling, and regional industry confidence in the ability for family owned and operated horticulture growers to thrive.  

The RED Grant 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 $3.3 million under the first-round of funding for the RED Grant program. Overall these 15 projects are expected to create more than 600 jobs across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland.

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.