Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm for sale

IT WAS the “alluring aroma” of strawberry plants that drew Mick Gallace away from his parents’ apple and cherry business.

Sunny Ridge strawberry farm and cafe. Owner Mick Gallace.

IT WAS the “alluring aroma” of strawberry plants that drew a young Mick Gallace away from his parents’ apple and cherry business.

“The aroma of walking in a field of strawberries when I was a young boy sealed the deal,” Mick said.

“Plus the fact I began picking strawberries when I was about 16. .

“I also found that I could manipulate the strawberry plant and that was very satisfying for me.”

SUNNY RIDGE STRAWBERRY FARM

Property: berries

Size: 329ha

Expressions of interest: close midday, June 10

Agent: William Buck

Contact: Edward Huntingford, 0402 638 510

But, after 40 years in the berry business, Mick is hoping to sell up and enter semi-retirement.

Sunny Ridge is the second biggest strawberry producer in Australia, and he has diversified to include blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Now the business has a turnover of $30 million a year, which is expected to increase to $40 million next year.

It sold 2.6 million kilograms of berries in 2013-14, with 2.95 million kilograms anticipated to be sold this year.

“The mix of berries is carefully chosen each year to maximise the overall contribution margin achieved in the sales,” Mick said.

He owns four properties, one at Wamuran in Queensland (104ha), one in the Yarra Valley (118ha) and two on the Mornington Peninsula (combined 108ha).

About 20ha of the total operation has been converted to protected cropping.

“That’s growing every year, just so we can guarantee the crop and I can sleep when we get these extreme weather events like hail,” Mick said. “It means we can harvest the crop without having it spoiled.”

The properties are being offered as a whole, along with the successful tourism arm, which has been developed at the Main Ridge property on the Mornington Peninsula, including a cafe and farm shop, as well as pick-your-own services and tour buses.

The property attracts about 500,000 tourists a year.

“We’re getting to the stage where the blackberries, raspberries and strawberries will be able to be grown 12 months of the year in two years time,” Mick said.

Agent Ed Huntingford said there was excellent water and infrastructure on each property, including packing sheds and solid set sprinklers.

“Berries are really sexy in the sense that the market is growing so fast,” Ed said.

“The success is doubled-barrelled — they grow the best soft fruit but they can also supply good quantities.”