NNNorthern Valley News
Norcia • Regans Ford • Wannamal
Bindoon & Districts Agricultural show
Upcoming Election
Results and photos
Page 7
Page 13-15
Blooming blueberries
November
Bindoon • Bullsbrook • Calingiri • Chittering • Gingin • Muchea • Mooliabeenie • New
Issue
19
Father and son, Derek and Marek Fisher, are understandably pretty excited about their new horticulture venture, blueberries. For the last few years they have built a successful Olive Grove, Regans Ford Estate, which from the ground up is one of the most innovative groves in WA. Looking for something new to do with a vacant paddock they came across a unique variety of blueberries. The blueberries are a warm climate, low chill variety, which produces a large gourmet fruit. The Fishers are one of seven WA farmers who have the licence to the PBR (Plant Breeder Rights) to produce this unique variety, which will yield fruit from June to Feb. It is easy to see why they are enthusiastic. Apart from the label of “superfood”, blueberries are profitable. Today more than 2,400 tonnes of blueberries, with a farmgate value of $A30 million, are picked from farms all across Australia. In Australia the consumption of fresh blueberries has grown dramatically. Currently we consume more than 1,400 tonnes of fresh blueberries every year. This is expected to grow further as the blueberry is gaining confectionary status as a healthy, sweet snack. The Fishers have just planted 14,000 trees in a pine bark soil mix in 45 litre green bags. Not only do the bags provide a controlled acidic soil, they also offer an efficiency bonus; they can house 2 hectares of bushes under a 1 hectare hot house. The hot houses bring on earlier fruiting, therefore increasing the available market. Their goal is to have six hectares of hot houses and four hectares of bird netted area, housing 50,000 to 60,000 bushes. At full production they’ll achieve in excess of 1.5million punnets a year. Their aim is to service the WA consumer needs which is now served by the eastern states. Together, this father and son team, are creating one of WA’s biggest and most northerly blueberry farms to feed WA’s growing appetite for this healthy confectionary.
MOOLIABEENEE
$350,000
49 DEWAR ROAD
Beautiful character home on 5ac quality pastured land. Original features incl Metters stove, timber floors, high ceilings and ornate cornices. Retic cottage garden, abundant ground water. Large powered shed, hay shed, chook yard and more. Priced to sell!
Tom Cabassi 0429 095 864
Ph: 08 9575 2566 www.cabassirealty.com
Gingin
gingin (bambun)
176 hectares (435 acres) Brand Hwy frontage 5 km south west of Gingin, mostly cleared with a good balance of soil types. A very good sized holding close to Muchea Livestock selling centre and metro area
Tom Cabassi 0429 095 864
New Rentals wanted!
$625,000
25 Rangeview Rise, Bindoon $595,000 6.2 Acres
HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!!!
Premium property in private address. Beautiful 4x2 home, recently renovated with modern kitchen. Seperate studio with sheds, immaculate reticulated gardens, bitumen driveway. Inspection will impress!
Seeking rental properties within Chittering & surrounds. Competitive rates with reliable service. Phone Amy or Liz on 9576 0626 or 0400 298 884
Liz Connell Realty, 27B Binda Place, Bindoon, WA 6502
P: 08 9576 0626 M: 0428 836 856 E: liz@lizconnellrealty.com