Toowoomba-based Stahmann Farms will double pecan production at its northern NSW orchard over the next three to five years to meet growing world demand for tree nuts, the ABC Rural has reported.
Managing director Matthew Durack told ABC Rural that over the past five years China has moved from a net exporter of tree nuts to a net importer, reportedly consuming 30% of the world’s pecan production.
Stahmann Farms operates Australia’s largest pecan orchard with 700 hectares of trees on the Gwydir River near Moree, NSW and runs a nut packing factory in Toowoomba, QLD, where it shells and packs pecans, macadamias and walnuts for global manufacturing and retail distribution under its own Riverside and Ducks brands, and through a range of retailer house brands.
The company is a major employer in regional Queensland and NSW with more than 120 full time staff. Last financial year the company pulled in approximately AUD $20 million.
Stahmann Farms recently added three equity partners – senior managers, Kevin Norman, Ross Burling and Richard Genest – in a move to provide long-term stability to the company, each taking a 9% position in the company.
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