Chevallum strawberry farm closes after almost 50 years
A “CONSIDERABLE” number of strawberry farms in Queensland are on the brink of ruin, the industry’s peak body has warned.
Queensland Strawberries president Luigi Coco made the comments following news one of the state’s longest running strawberry farms would stop production after nearly half a century.
Chevallum’s Twist Brothers strawberry farms shut last week and will sell off what they can.
A combination of low strawberry prices and years of hard labour have seen the industry “backbone” call it a day.
Mr Coco said he was “very, very disappointed” to hear the Twist Brothers were closing.
“There is a lot of speculation that there are growers out there that are going to probably lose farms, lose businesses that they’ve worked all their life in,” he said.
“There’s a lot out there that are surviving on the goodwill of banks, others are surviving on borrowed money from agents. It hasn’t been good for a number of years and it’s been getting worse.”
For years the farm was one of the Sunshine Coast’s top employers, with more than 230 staff hired in its busiest year.
Started by brothers Rick, Jeff and David Twist in 1972, the farm will stay with the family but its grounds will sow new seeds.
“It is time for a change in direction for us,” Rick said.
“We made up our minds last year that this would be it.
“I don’t want to sell the farm, it is in the blood, so we are helping a neighbour out who sells turf.
“The turfing will make his business better and is at a good time for us. We can keep all our machinery and gear for our children’s future.
“We are getting on and it is just a case of it getting too hard on us now.
“I’m really proud of how we have run the whole thing. We were just 14 when we started. It’s been a good run.”
Mr Twist said an oversupply of the fruit on the market was crippling the industry and that he had been picking at a loss for years.
He expressed his sadness for younger strawberry farmers dealing with low prices.
He said the prices were “criminally” low and that half a million of his planted crop wouldn’t be harvested.
“I still really care about the industry and I always will, but I am sorry about where it is heading, particularly for younger farmers,” he said.
“The supermarkets always want a lower price for their customers, which I understand, but it is just getting too tough on farmers.
“I’m not prepared to wear these old clothes to work, I’d like to make a profit. It costs you $1.10 per punnet. At that price you’re better off going home and having a sleep.”