Shire rejoices in jobs-boosting Moonrocks expansion

The St George farm’s latest expansion is being heralded as ‘visionary’, at a time when the region needs jobs and investment more than ever.

Employees package onions at Moonrocks, St George.

MAYOR Samantha O’Toole has heralded the job-boosting expansion of St George farming business Moonrocks as ‘visionary’, commending the longtime locals for their latest project. Moonrocks is starting a new arm of their business, turning imperfect vegetables into usable food products, and their initiative has garnered a $250,000 Rural Economic Development grant from the state government to get it off the ground.

The cash injection from the state government was welcomed by the mayor, who said investment and innovation like this is critical for the shire.

“I applaud agriculture minister Mark Furner for helping our community create 39 jobs when we need them most,” Ms O’Toole said.

“Innovative projects, like this new processing facility, are not only visionary but critical to ensuring we keep and grow jobs, and we are lucky to have the Moon family business in our region.”

Moonrocks has been operating in St George for more than two decades, growing onions, garlic and broccoli; their latest project will take the vegetables which would have gone to waste, and turn them into sliced, diced, and powdered food products.

The RED grant will enable them to continue supporting their town, and the local economy, Moonrocks co-owner Andrew Moon said.

“We invest a lot of our own capital back into the community, so receiving an incentive like the RED grant from the Queensland Government is a welcome acknowledgment, not just for our business but for all the people of the area,” he said.

“It was great to have Minister Furner visit our farm last year and witness the importance of value-adding business growth and to see our operation in action.

“Ultimately, it’s about our community and driving local employment and keeping people in our towns.”

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