Lockyer Valley cannery set to open in Grantham in 2016
THERE nothing more Aussie than beetroot on a burger, but a little known fact is that we import most of the purple stuff
Gatton
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THERE nothing more Aussie than beetroot on a burger, but a little known fact is that we import most of the purple stuff - now a proposed cannery for the Lockyer Valley is hoping to change that.
Lockyer Farmers United President and spokesperson for the Lockyer Valley Beetroot Company Colin Dorber announced today a vegetable cannery is set to open in 2016 providing much needed jobs and a future for growers in the nation's salad bowl.
Mr Dorber said they presented the business case and financials to the directors and shareholders and got authorisation to build the factory.
"The decisions we took yesterday were to raise $40m through investment and debt lending to establish a factory in the Grantham region on a site identified by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council," Mr Dorber said.
"By early 2016 we will be delivering canned vegetables, beetroot, potatoes, beans, carrots and other vegetables to the Australian market followed by a step into the Asian export market."
Mr Dorber said this plan was farmers taking control of their destiny.
"For too long the growers of vegetables have been price takers not price makers, now they will be a part of a chain, that controls right to the point of distribution their product," he said.
Mr Dorber said that until 2011 Lockyer beetroot growers grew 90% of Australia's beetroot crop selling it to Golden Circle at Northgate until its owners Heinz decided to move its operation to New Zealand.
"Since then the industry has struggled to find markets," he said.
Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones hailed the announcement as a massive boost to the region, financially and emotionally.
"We have had years of droughts and floods and this is a really positive story," Mayor Jones said.
"Grantham led with the land swap and now will lead with this."
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