Mareeba Citrus Producers Expand to Keep up with Demands

Article by: Hari Yellina

Galati Farming, a producer of citrus in Mareeba, plans to grow after being awarded a subsidy of up to $200,000 from the government. Galati Farming, one of the 16 companies to be awarded a Rural Economic Development (RED) grant, will build a second cold room to support the growth of the orchard and assist satisfy consumer demand for fresh fruit. The company is owned and operated by Gina and Giovanni Galati, who currently struggle to meet the rising demand for their current crop of lemons, grapefruit, mandarins, and pomelos. The additional cold room would help us accommodate the increased product, she added. “After extensive consultation with numerous agents in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, we knew that we wanted to expand our orchard,” she said.

“Here in Mareeba, we have excellent local contractors who will assist us in building the cold room. We’ll want to hire more fruit pickers as production rises in order to assist with processing. More than 217 direct, long-term jobs are anticipated to be created by the 16 projects together in regional Queensland. Also, more than 30 projects supported by $10 million over three years during the first three rounds of the RED Grants programme resulted in the creation of 1800 employment in rural Queensland. Galati Farming’s expansion, according to agricultural minister Mark Furner, would increase economic prospects and local employment in the Mareeba region.

According to Mr. Furner, “the market is seeking fresh, locally grown products, and this award will help Galati Farming meet that demand by funding a project that will help them improve their fruit production.” A total of eight full-time, excellent positions will be generated as a result of this endeavour, he claimed. The RED Grant programme is managed by Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.