|
The Valley of Variety … home to some of the world’s most fertile farming land … and notable farming innovators.
The Lockyer Valley is one of the “Top Ten Most Fertile Farming Areas in the World” with wonderful dark alluvial soils, good quality water and an ideal climate for growing. Agriculture in the Lockyer Valley has grown into a dynamic and modern undertaking, with many of its leading enterprises among the major suppliers of the national market.
Often referred to as the “Valley of Variety” the area grows the most diverse commercial range of vegetables and fruit of any area in Australia. Some of the largest local farming enterprises each employ hundreds of people, vital to the region’s prosperity. Backpackers are also a welcome addition to the local workforce, so if you’re travelling around and looking for a little casual work don’t be afraid to ask!
Our machinery manufacturing and sales sector is second to none with some businesses the largest of their kind in the country. David Evans Group, for example, are a leading supplier of small crop and haymaking machinery.
State of the art technology can be seen in the production of paddocks full of potatoes, pumpkins, onions, lettuce, broccoli, celery, tomatoes, corn, cabbages, carrots, beetroot, beans, peas, cauliflower, capsicum and other colourful vegies are a sight to behold for visitors. Other interesting crops like mangoes, olives, peaches, and grapes also add to the scenery, while the bright greens of the lucerne fields would make any horse hungry! All this is set against a backdrop of the green and blue hues of the mountains of the Great Dividing Range … the source of our quality irrigation water.
The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus is still a major centre of learning, with a long and proud history in the Lockyer.
The scale of innovative agriculture can be seen in some of the large family owned enterprises. Mulgowie Farming Company supplies high quality green beans and sweet corn, which outshone multinationals to be named Woolworths Supplier of the Year in 2002.
Pohlmans Nursery is the largest supplier of flower and vegetable seedlings in Queensland and New South Wales. Vege-Fresh Pty Ltd is a large grower, packer, marketer and exporter of quality vegetables … while Bauer’s Organic Farm is Queensland’s largest producer of quality certified organic vegetables supplying to most organic retail outlets and supermarkets in all corners of Australia. A Seniors Tour of the farm will not only inform, but also entertain with the opportunity to taste some of the local produce for lunch.
|
|
