Community & Business
15 December, 2021
World-wide growth for Mareeba’s lemon myrtle
MAREEBA’s lemon myrtle farm is going from strength to strength, with a new $4 million processing plant now operational, the planting of an additional 150,000 trees, and gaining organic certification for its oil and leaf products.
Between the farm in Mareeba and another at The Channon in northern New South Wales, Australian Native Products (ANP) is now the world’s largest grower and supplier of Australian lemon myrtle and has managed to gain organic certification for its oil and leaf products that are grown and produced in Far North Queensland.
The company has invested $4 million in the development of a new, state-of-the-art processing facility at Mareeba, which became fully operational at the end of November, to support the rollout of its organic products that already has a waitlist of local and international customers.
The new facility, along with the planting of an additional 150,000 trees, will allow the company to significantly increase its annual output of lemon myrtle, ensuring a security of supply for their brand partners.
ANP general manager Ross Norris said the announcement marked a significant milestone for Australian natives, at a time when international demand was at an all-time high.
“This investment allows us to produce organic lemon myrtle at scale and provide leading international brands a consistent, high-quality supply,” Mr Norris said.
“There’s huge demand for organic lemon myrtle throughout Australia and world-wide. We anticipate the new accreditation will allow us to fully service existing customers, as well as unlocking new North American markets where demand for organic product from tea houses is growing.”
Lemon myrtle, a native Australian bush botanical that is renowned for its versatility, can be used in everything from food and beverages, to cosmetic, personal care and household cleaning products.
With its distinct aromatic fragrance and flavour, lemon myrtle has steadily grown in popularity since ANP founder Gary Mazzorana began growing the native botanical in northern New South Wales in 1995.
ANP is committed to prioritising sustainability across its farms in New South Wales and Queensland. In 2019, it began planting lemon myrtle trees in Mareeba, with the region’s idyllic climate naturally minimising disease and facilitating organic farming.
The 67-hectare Mareeba farm and new processing facility will be the home of ANP’s production of organic lemon myrtle and anise myrtle.
“We’ve spent years developing the technology, which is a world-first drying, sorting and packing line for lemon myrtle, that minimises handling and reduces contamination risk, while also maximising aroma, colours and flavours of the leaf and oils produced,” Mr Norris said.
“The process was designed by ANP founder Gary Mazzorana, who was involved in the exacting details of this project at every step, to ensure the freshest possible supply of 100 per cent certified organic lemon myrtle.”
