Washed, chopped and delivered for Lockyer Valley horticulture producer
19 October 2022
CJZ Farms in the Lockyer Valley is set to increase production by 200% and create up to 10 new good jobs with a Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant of up to $200,000.
The ‘shovel ready’ project will enhance the horticulture producers current packing and processing infrastructure to help the business keep up with consumer demand for ready to eat and snacking products.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner MP says generational business CJZ Farm’s project is not only a great opportunity of the business to expand its product line but will create more job opportunities within the Lockyer Valley.
“CJZ is a family-owned business with a strong reputation for production of quality produce and currently services numerous high-profile markets,” he said.
“Their ‘shovel ready’ project will create up to 10 new full-time jobs in the Lockyer Valley area. We will also see the benefits of this project flow through the entire supply chain from truck drivers, retail and hospitality workers, rural supply stores and more.”
Director of CJZ Farm’s Calvin Zischke is a fourth generation horticulture producer and says that consumer demand for their products continues to grow.
“The markets have been rapidly expanding over the last few years and the current facility limits growth due to infrastructure constraints,” he said.
“This project will enhance our capability to meet these markets by establishing specific areas for processing a variety of different crops, increase storage capacity, streamline the bulk export process and create a more efficient transport and logistics zone,” he said.
Mr Zischke says the project will also open up opportunities to take on additional markets and customers.
“The enhancement of the facilities will also allow us to explore new markets including the potential to supply a well-recognised pet food company that will utilise fresh produce to enhance their existing product lines,” he said.
CJZ Farms is one of 16 businesses approved in the fourth round of the RED Grants program with total funding of just over $3 million. Overall, these 16 projects are expected to create more than 217 direct long-term jobs across regional Queensland.
The initial three rounds of the RED Grants program have seen funding of $10 million over three years to support more than 30 projects which have created 1,800 jobs across regional Queensland.
The Palaszczuk Government has continued its investment with a further $6.6 million to be delivered in two rounds over the next two years to generate even more jobs, expand agricultural supply chains and provide significant economic benefit to rural areas.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
