Weston Agriculture ginger farmers buy $2.65m Scotchy Pocket farm

The purchase of 92ha at Scotchy Pocket will increase Weston’s ginger production by about 500 tonne a year.

Weston Agriculture ginger farmers, directed by Craig Weston, has purchased a 92ha property at Scotchy Pocket for $2.65m.

A Sunshine Coast-based ginger enterprise has expanded further into the Gympie region with the purchase of a 92ha macadamia and avocado property near the Mary River.

Weston Agriculture bought the Scotchy Pocket Rd property in April 2023 for $2.65m, CoreLogic RP Data records show.

The farm is located about 25km northwest of Gympie.

Company director Craig Weston said the property’s water allocation off the Mary River, and its red soil and flood-free location, made it “unique”.

It will be the fifth farm owned by the family-run company, which has runs properties at Yandina Creek, Bauple, Jones Hill and Bells Bridge.

Weston Agriculture was founded more than a decade ago.

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Aerial image of the Scotchy Pocket farm, about 25km northwest of Gympie, bought by Sunshine Coast-based, family owned ginger farming company Weston Agriculture.

Mr Weston first stepped into ginger farming through an older neighbour who was leasing land of his family.

The family connection to ginger farming was much deeper.

“Our grandad used to pick ginger for Templetons 30 or 40 years ago,” Mr Weston said.

The plan was to keep about 50 per cent of the avocados growing, he said, and transform the rest of the farm for ginger production.

It was hoped the farm would produce about 500 tonnes of ginger a year.

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This would help the company keep existing staff levels in the face of a ever more challenging industry conditions, Mr Weston said.

These included labour shortages, increasing cost-of-living, and a drop in ginger prices of about 70 per cent in the past two years.

This was set against the challenge of increasing wages.

“One of our goals is to remain productive with the low prices,” Mr Weston said.

“There’s nothing in the future that looks like it’s going to be any different,” he said.

Originally published as Weston Agriculture ginger farmers buy $2.65m Scotchy Pocket farm