THE Mackinnon family's diversification of Mountford, the 1360-hectare Longford property it has farmed since the 1870s, has taken a new turn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The family yesterday announced an $800,000 investment that will see it produce strawberries for US-based berry processor Driscoll.
Patriarch Hugh Mackinnon said the investment was made possible through a $400,000 grant from the federal government's $100 million Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
Mr Mackinnon said the former wool and beef property began to diversify in the late 1980s into peas, poppies, potatoes, onions, prime lambs, wool and sometimes beef.
``The family farm diversified with about 400 hectares under irrigation, [with] centre pivots into those crops now being run by [sons] Charlie and Roly,'' Mr Mackinnon said.
``That is a series of planned operations under the farm plan that has been running for 10-15 years and the horticultural berry diversification ties in well with that.
``Mountford is a difficult property to manage, because we're impacted by federal, state and local roads, water lines, fibre optic lines, mobile phone towers and railway lines.
``But the diversification through the proposed strawberry farm - starting at four hectares, but with the capacity to increase up to 10 hectares or more - has been made substantially easier for us because of the $400,000 grant and we're really grateful for that.
``The objective is to establish a large and diversified berry fruit production facility in conjunction with Driscoll's.''
Mr Mackinnon said the venture would have a nine-month picking season and provide employment for three or four full-time-equivalent positions and up to 30 pickers. Lyons Labor MHR Dick Adams said the Mackinnon venture was one of 31 projects chosen to draw investment back to Tasmania and provide long-term employment to replace those lost from the forestry industry.