The new Mountford Berryfruits, at Longford, was officially opened for business today by Federal Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson.
Mr Hutchinson welcomed the new agricultural enterprise as a major investment for the region that created jobs during construction and is already providing more employment opportunities in irrigation, horticulture and seasonal work in the State’s Northern Midlands.
“The project involved construction of 48 poly-tunnels housing 200,000 strawberry plants covering four hectares,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
These plants are expected to produce about 150 tonnes of strawberries.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that the irrigation installed on the Mackinnon family’s Mountford property had the capacity to allow farm production to be doubled over the next three to five years.
The new farming enterprise was one of the projects partly financed by the Federal Government’s Tasmanian Jobs and Growth Plan with a $400,000 contribution from the Federal Government and another $632,118 private investment.
The $106 million Tasmanian Jobs and Growth Plan is part of the Federal Government’s economic growth plan for Tasmania to build a stronger economy for the State by supporting jobs and growth.
The plan will deliver important infrastructure for the state including $38 million for the Hobart Airport expansion and $400 million for the Midland Highway upgrade.
Federal Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson
