The opportunity to buy an achacha plantation doesn't crop up everyday because there's only one commercial operation in Australia, which may even be the oldest in the world.
Building the 15,000-tree Mount Surround plantation has been an adventure for managers and major shareholders Bruce and Helen Hill. The couple came across the tangy relative to the mangosteen in Bolivian backyards decades ago.
"I was amazed achacha was being sold on street corners, but not even known in the capital, La Paz," he said.
The egg-shaped tropical fruit is native to the Bolivian lowlands and its firm orange skin covers a tangy white pulp.
The Hills brought some achacha to Sydney for friends to test and, after positive feedback, began to import seed in 2003.
"Helen and I organized everything from Sydney; we had a farmer up here get it going," Mr Hill said.
Convinced of the fruit's potential, the Hills bought an old 101-hectare sugar plantation, which the farmer levelled, then installed an irrigation system and began planting.
The property has a 535-megalitre Sunwater allocation but uses less than 100ML annually and sells the surplus.
The first fruit crop was harvested six years later in 2009.
A decision to shift to organic and biodynamic production systems saw the farmer and the Hills part ways, so the couple relocated to the Mount Surround property in 2012.
Mr Hill said there was still massive growth potential for the business, which picks about 200 tonnes of achacha fruit a year. Sales through wholesale markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane are paired with exports to the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America.
About 30 per cent of the fruit is discarded but he said it could be used for a range of new products, including gelato, drinks and salad ingredients, if the skin could be commercially removed.
"We've now got a process schematic of how to do that but it really needs someone to work through all the final details," Mr Hill said.
The property sale includes plant breeders rights, giving sole rights to commercialise achacha in Australia until 2036, 3000 African Mahogany windbreak trees, 60 mango trees and a variety of tropical fruit species.
There's an automatic sprinkler system for all trees, a large packing shed with computerised packing line and cold room, as well as tractors, a large sprayer, six all terrain vehicles and the machinery required to operate the farm, plus two fully-furnished residences.
Expressions of interest are invited by September 5. Contact agent Bill Micola on 0418 778 674.
Marian Macdonald
Writing for farmers in the Stock & Land, The Land, Queensland Country Life, Stock Journal and FarmWeekly, farming in Gippsland.
Writing for farmers in the Stock & Land, The Land, Queensland Country Life, Stock Journal and FarmWeekly, farming in Gippsland.
