Four organic fruit and vegetable growing operations are the beneficiaries of a million-dollars in grants and interest-free loans, thanks to the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund, that will allow them to upgrade production systems and develop expansion plans.

The four successful recipients in the third funding round — Cantrill Organics, Kalafatis Fresh Produce, Wattle Organic Farms and Prime Organics — grow a wide range of fruit and vegetable varieties on farms in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

Located in Lake Boga near Swan Hill, Victoria, Wattle Organics Farms had its beginnings more than 10 years ago, with the aim of producing healthier and more sustainable fruit and vegetable crops.

Run by Nathan Free (pictured) and parents Kelvin and Deanne, the property has 130 hectares of certified-organic land devoted to the year-round production of vegetables and stone fruit. The Frees will use an $80,000 grant from the Fund to expand and improve their most in-demand stone fruit lines.

Applications for Round Four of the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund are now open and close on 11 October 2020.

The Fund has been established by Woolworths to support investment in organic farming projects by eligible Australian farmers.

The $30m Woolworths Organic Growth Fund was established in 2018 in partnership with Heritage Bank to help eligible Australian farmers meet the fast growing consumer demand for organic fruit and vegetables.

Woolworths General Manager of Fruit and Vegetables Paul Turner said that customer demand for organic fruit and veg continues to grow at around 20 per cent a year.

“We’re working in close partnership with local farmers to ensure we can meet the growing demand with Aussie grown products,” Mr Turner said.

“In this round, we’re backing four more hard-working and entrepreneurial Australian farming families, with another $1 million in investment through the Organic Growth Fund.

“This includes a $500,000 grant for the Kalafatis family to branch out into organics. The Kalafatis family has been a trusted supply partner to Woolworths for more than 50 years in the conventional space, and we’re excited to be deepening our partnership.

“As we look to the next round, we’d like to encourage more applications like this from conventional growers who are looking to diversify crops and convert to organic production.”

Click here to learn more or to apply!