AU: Riverland avocados win grant money
Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture, Gail Gago, said Ramco-based CF Fechner and Co had been awarded $100,700 from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund (RSFF).
“Colin Fechner is an active industry participant and has grown avocados since 1976, with the business currently packing avocados for 18 other Riverland growers,” Minister Gago said.
“The rise in popularity of avocados is presenting opportunities for this business to pack and store for additional growers on a contract basis.
“With tight competition from interstate growers and from New Zealand, the expansion of the packing and storage facilities will boost the competitiveness of the local industry.
“It will also assist in diversifying the region’s horticulture by providing citrus and wine growers with a viable alternative crop.”
“The State Government is committed to supporting small to medium sized enterprises with fewer than 99 employees. There are almost 43,000 such businesses, or 32 percent of South Australia’s total, based in our regions.”
CF Fechner Director, Colin Fechner, said the RSFF funding would ensure his businesses continued success by being able to process and store significantly higher quantities of fruit.
“We’ll be able to expand our shedding and loading areas, add a new cool room and extend the existing cool room to allow separation of fruit and improved quality control measures,” Mr Fechner said.
“It will also create the need for one full time employee and three new casual workers in the first year and another two casuals by 2015.
“We aim to to increase interstate share by throughput of avocados from 95,000 trays in 2011-12 to 135,000 trays by 2015.”
The State’s current throughput represents less than one per cent of the total Australian market of 9.5 million trays per annum.
The $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund is accessible by industry and businesses to bolster projects that improve infrastructure, support industry attraction and help grow existing businesses.
The fund was established to assist with industry restructuring and to promote sustainable economicand social development in the Riverland following a severe drought and depressed economic circumstances.
Source: sj.farmonline.com.au