One Queensland lime farmer has created what he calls a world first ‘value add’ product that he hopes will ensure his farm makes a profit from limes for more than just three to four months per year. Daniel Tabone, of Suncoast Limes, has partnered with a U.S engineering firm to design and build a lime-zesting machine that works on a commercial scale, zesting a whole lime within approximately six seconds. All that is required is one operator to feed the limes in to the machine.
The resulting lime zest is snap frozen at minus 40 degrees Celsius and the zest can be sold on its own, mixed in to create lime salt and sold on to restaurants and retailers, saving them time and labour and making a profit during the months when the market is flooded with fresh fruit. “The temperature, at minus 40 degrees, locks in flavor, smell and colour for up to 12 months,” says Mr Tabone.
The machine itself is being tested, and is not for retail sale, but Mr Tabone does expect there to be a market for the fresh zest product. It is also one way to help avoid wastage, according to him. “Before we started value adding to this business, we dumped 20 tonnes of limes each season,” he says. “We don’t get a say in what we get from our fruit or what we sell on the market either. A lot of the bigger companies also import lime juice and we can’t compete with the prices they get.”
The current machine has been in development for about 18 months, with four new prototype units on the way. Mr Tabone also says he consulted three large engineering firms in the U.S, including one that specialises robotics technology for the military.
For more information
Daniel Tabone,
Suncoast Limes
Phone: +61428176371
Website: www.suncoastlimes.com.au