Good news for Tassie berry lovers as farm strikes deal with grocery giant Coles

AUSTRALIANS will be able to choose fresh frozen Tasmanian berries at the supermarket thanks to a ground-breaking new partnership.

Coca Cola Amatil is launching a new formula for Blackcurrant Ultra-C. Pictured at the Westerway raspberry farm is farmer and owner, Richard Clark of Westerway.

AUSTRALIANS will be able to choose fresh frozen Tasmanian berries at the supermarket thanks to a ground-breaking new partnership.

The Clark family, which grows fruit at Westerway on Tyenna River and more recently on the banks of the River Derwent at New Norfolk, is teaming up with Coles to supply up to 30 tonnes of Tasmanian-grown berries to supermarket freezers around the nation.

Tasmania grows all the vegetables used in Coles’ frozen vegetable line and from early next year Australians will be able to buy fresh frozen Tasmanian raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries and mixed berries.

The berry farm grew 130 tonnes of raspberries last season and is planting another eight hectares, creating five new jobs to meet the extra demand.

“The sky is the limit. It will be a huge growth spurt and a new frontier with locally-grown quick frozen berries for the Australian market,” Richard Clark said.

“There is a growing demand for Australian-grown frozen berries.”

Westerway, with support of $260,000 from Coles’ Nurture Fund, will in December have Australia’s first individually Quick Frozen (QF) freezer tunnel using liquid nitrogen.

Coles managing director John Durkan said Tasmanian stores would get the local frozen berries first.

“If the market gets traction this could be the start of phasing out of imported frozen berries,” Mr Durkan said.

“We are giving Australians what they want and that is choice. Tasmania is important to Coles with its fresh, safe and high-quality products. But also there are consumers who buy on price.”

Mr Durkan launched the $50 million Nurture Fund six months ago to support small innovative businesses in the food and grocery sector to take the next step.

Premier Will Hodgman said Westerway supplying Coles would create jobs and was a massive vote of confidence in Tasmania’s agricultural sector.

“It’s fantastic to see Tasmania will once again be feeding the nation, this time with frozen berries. Many Tasmanians will look forward to having local raspberries in their health smoothies in the morning,” Mr Hodgman said.

Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans said the project gave young people in the district confidence.

“I am thrilled and it shows agriculture and agritourism is where the growth is,” Mr Evans said.

Westerway is also the only Tasmanian commercial grower to supply blackcurrants and raspberries for Coca-Cola Amatil’s Cascade drink cordial.