State Government funding boost for Cambooya lettuce processor

Cambooya food processing company Story Fresh has been awarded $144,000 to source an Australian-first specialised drying system for the production of shredded lettuce.

The funding, from the State Government’s Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) scheme, will enable the company to expand its market in Queensland and interstate.

Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle announced the funding today.

“The BITI scheme encourages regional growth and also fits with the Premier’s new blueprint for growing a strong and smart economy – Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.

“Story Fresh is one of the largest employers in the Cambooya region, with 120 staff and an annual turnover of $9 million.

“The company produces three million serves of shredded lettuce per week to food-service companies. The new technology will increase productivity, increase the shelf life of the lettuce from 10 days to 12 and deliver environmental benefits through waste reduction, water and energy saving.”

Mr Geoffrey Story, Managing Director at Story Fresh, added that the funding would also assist in redesigning and optimising the factory layout and developing an integrated computerised control system.

“This specialised lettuce processing technology was specifically sourced from overseas, and utilises leading-edge technology and machinery design to achieve a high-quality outcome,” Mr Story said.

“It will transform our production rate by 66 per cent and could certainly be applied across the wider industry.”

Minister Boyle said the project was an excellent example of a progressive and significant regional business looking to increase its productivity to remain at the forefront of its industry sector.

“The BITI scheme supports projects that promote the transformation of priority industries and drive Queensland towards an internationally competitive, sustainable and knowledge-intensive future,” Ms Boyle said.

“It focuses on the big picture and the impact of a project on an industry and region as a whole.

“Small to medium enterprises operating in Queensland’s priority sectors can apply for between $30,000 and $250,000 for projects that have the potential to significantly expand their business, their industry and their region.”

The next round of BITI closes on 13 March 2009. For more information on BITI, visit www.industry.qld.gov.au/incentives

6 November 2008

Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Story Farm Cuts Pty Ltd (trading as Story Fresh): Geoffrey Story, Managing Director, 4696 1360 or geoffrey.story@bigpond.com.au