Bon Accord Organic Citrus
Gayndah, Queensland
Growth opportunities in organics for Queensland citrus farmers
Bon Accord Organic Citrus farmers Will and Anna McLay believe organics is a growth market and are proud to be part of Australia’s evolving organic citrus industry. The Woolworths Organic Growth Fund will assist the McLays to expand their orchard in Gayndah, in the North Burnett Region of Queensland. Mandarins, lemons, limes grapefruit and oranges are grown on the 7.43 hectare farm. The $350,000 grant will enable the purchase of equipment such as sprayers, which will improve the quality of their product and provide Woolworths customers with high quality organic produce.
Bon Accord Organic Citrus was registered as an organic citrus orchard in 2020 by new owners Will and Anna McLay. The McLays are now looking to expand and improve the quality of their organic products, made possible by a $350,000 grant from the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund.
The 49 hectare orchard is in Gayndah, in the North Burnett Region of Queensland, with 7.43 hectares growing 3,800 trees, producing mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges.
Will and Anna have been producing conventional citrus since 2016, however, they grasped the opportunity to purchase an organic orchard last year as they strongly believe organics is a growth market with many opportunities to continue to expand.
The McLays applied for the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund to assist with expansion of their orchard and to grow production levels.
“We applied for the grant to help alleviate some of the costs associated with expansion. Not using conventional chemicals means that there is a much higher labour input,” Will said.
Will says that securing the grant under the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund will help them achieve growth. The grant will also enable them to purchase equipment such as sprayers which will improve the quality of their product.
“We would not have been able to look to grow without the grant. This is a wonderfully exciting opportunity for our business, and we are extremely grateful and humbled to have been awarded the grant from Woolworths.”
“We are proud to be part of Australia’s evolving organic citrus industry and are looking forward to seeing our products in Woolworths stores. We want to produce the best organic product possible for the consumer.”