Fifth-generation Australian farmers David and Andrew Moon have developed a new approach to garlic production by processing unsold garlic into pure Australian garlic powder.
The Moon brothers, based in St George, Queensland, operate under the Moonrocks brand and supply fresh garlic to major supermarkets, including Coles. The farm, located about 500 km southwest of Brisbane, produces large volumes of garlic annually. However, strict supermarket grading standards often result in portions of the crop being discarded due to irregular bulb size or shape.
"We knew that our garlic that was going to waste was perfect garlic, so we put our thinking caps on and said, let's see what we can make out of it," said David Moon, who describes garlic as "a lazy plant," requiring manual harvesting and intensive labor.
The brothers identified an opportunity to produce a locally made garlic powder, noting that China supplies most of the garlic powder consumed in Australia. "We realised there wasn't a really good Australian pure garlic powder. China produces more garlic than the rest of the world put together, and most garlic powder in Australia comes from China. We wanted to change that," Moon said.
After three years of testing and refining the process, the brothers launched G'day Garlic, made entirely from Australian-grown garlic without additives. The product is processed onsite in a sealed high-care kitchen and is currently sold online in chunky, fine, and seasoned powder formats, with expansion into supermarkets planned.
Commercial garlic production remains a labor-intensive operation, supported by seasonal workers from East Timor and Vanuatu. The process involves a nine-month cycle from planting to sale, creating cash flow challenges for producers. "There's a nine-month gap between planting and being paid," said Moon. "It's a huge drain on cash flow, and that's where Westpac comes in."
Peta Ward, national general manager of Westpac Regional and Agribusiness, said: "The challenge for every farmer is seasonality. Cashflow support is crucial, and we're proud to help farmers like David and Andrew continue to feed Australia."
The brothers are now exploring further product development, including crushed and pickled garlic, as part of their broader plan to add value to Australian-grown garlic and reduce waste from fresh market rejections.
Source: The Advertiser
