South-East Irrigation scheme has enabled large-scale raspberry growing at Orielton

A big Tasmanian berry farm is set to get even bigger next season as supermarket shoppers snap up their products.

A NEWCOMER to Tasmania’s berry industry will double production next season as supermarket shoppers snap up their products.

The raspberry growing and packing facility at Orielton is a partnership between Queensland-based firm Piñata Farms and global berry breeding and marketing company BerryWorld.

The polytunnel farm grows fruit exclusively for Woolworths.

Polytunnel construction continues at Orielton, Tasmania as the inaugural harvest enters its final days.

Berry World managing director Gavin Scurr said the first harvest was in its final stages.

“Raspberries have been harvested continuously at Orielton for the past six months, and fruit quality and yield has exceeded expectations.

“Given the farm was a greenfield site, there was a lot to make happen before the first harvest, including the erection of wind breaks to protect the crop,” he said.

“At the peak of the harvest, we employed 25 people, including a mix of locals and backpackers both in the field and the packhouse, and that number will increase in line with production over the next year.”

Assistant berry farm manager Jim Eastley harvests raspberries at Orielton.

The partnership selected Orielton because the Sorell region is warmer and drier than other Tasmanian raspberry-growing regions.

The enterprise has been enabled by the South-East Irrigation Scheme, which ensures a stable and reliable water source, and is expected to reach full production by 2024.

“Of Piñata Farms’ raspberry growing regions, conditions at Orielton are the most like that of Europe, where the varieties were bred,” Mr Scurr said.

“Therefore, the location is ideal for raspberry production and the result has been exceptional berry size and taste.”

He said additional polytunnels were being constructed and beds and trellises would be set up in preparation for spring planting. Picking will resume in November and continue until next winter.

Raspberries produced at Orielton are distributed to selected Woolworths stores in Tasmania and Victoria.

Specialty BerryWorld strawberry varieties will also be trialled at Orielton during the next 18 months.

Berries have taken over from apples and cherries as Tasmania’s biggest fruit crop.

Originally published as South-East Irrigation scheme has enabled large-scale raspberry growing at Orielton