Layer upon layer of onion excellence

A FOCUS on quality and genetics has allowed Harvest Moon to boost its onion operation to feed growing demand.

A shift from exports to domestic sales over five years has paid off and Harvest Moon agricultural director Mark Kable said the company now saw a strong future.

“We want to get the word out there that we’re looking for growers, we’re expanding our production base, purely on the back of top-quality onions and good brand recognition in Australia,” he said.

Global oversupply is common in onions and Mr Kable said this had motivated a look at other market options.

“Since the debacle of 2012 where the whole onion industry bled and bled, and we were one of them — we had to chop in 2500 tonnes of onions — we’ve completely refocused,” Mr Kable said.

He said Harvest Moon decided to exit European and British exports because with a high currency and high wages Australia was uncompetitive.

The overall industry in Tasmania has shrunk by about half in two decades, but as demand interstate rises Harvest Moon is looking to boost production of red and brown onions by about 10 per cent.

“We’re lucky enough to get a contract with Woolworths. With that and stronger brand recognition in the open market the demand is growing,” Mr Kable said.

Red onions make up about 40 per cent of production, which is a big increase. Improved genetics and increasing yield per hectare has helped produce better quality onions and good returns for growers.

“An onion is bred for a spe- cific latitude, so what we’re playing with and developing is something that is adapted to our conditions,” Mr Kable said.

About 20 farmers supply onions to the Forth company, but it is looking for more in the North-West. Harvest Moon employs about 300 people and processes about 12,000 tonnes of onions at Forth every year.