One South Australian orchard is finding ways to innovate, and stay profitable, by finding the market for its premium quality figs, as well as the seconds, which still command a decent price, according to the grower. Smith Gully Orchard manager Jenny Smith says she went online to solve the problem of excess harvest on her Montacute property. “When we were selling on the fresh market we never had an outlet for all of our figs. This last year though we got a few people that make paste and jams and that sort of thing on board using the Internet.” The orchard still has frozen figs available for sale through its website.
Items such as fig paste were previously monopolised by Maggie Beer’s entrepreneurial brand, and sold in high end or expensive outlets, according to Ms Smith. Now less ‘exclusive’ retailers stock the value added products and there is more consumer demand, she says. “Although it hasn’t taken off as fast as we’d have liked things are slowly getting there. We have a relatively short season for premium products like figs, but we get up to $9-10 per kilo for premium grade, and being able to sell our seconds is a good thing.” Figs are a very labour intensive product, and require hand picking. They are also packed by hand, and have to be treated with care, according to her. The orchard is not affected by changes to visa laws, Ms Smith says, because they only hire backpackers during the peak summer months.
Smith Gully orchard is run by sixth generation farmers, and the team picks lemons all year round, and sells apples and cherries when in season. The pink lady apples grown on the orchard have stored very well this year, according to Ms Smith, and are still getting good feedback from customers. “Our air stored apples have finished now, but we have some in cold storage. Things have slowed down because of school holidays, but the season has gone well.”
For more information:
Jenny Smith
Smith Gully Orchards
Phone: +61882461140
E-mail: smithgullyorchards@ihug.net.au
Website: www.smithgullyorchards.com.au