Agronico Undergoes Major Expansion

Agronico – a Tasmanian seed potato company – has recently unveiled a new development which has doubled the company’s storage and production capacity, writes Weekly Times Now.

Through the expansion, Agronico now has the capacity to store 14,400 tons of potatoes in the state-of-the-are facility. According to the company’s chief executive officer Robert Graham, who was cited by the report, increasing demand from mainland states for top quality seed potatoes has seen the company’s business expand significantly.

The expansion, which also includes hopper covers and a machinery shed, was party funded via an AUD1.6m grant from the Federal Government’s Regional Jobs and Investment Package.

The facility now has 18 separate storage areas, which can all be individually climate controlled. A computer system monitors temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels in each storage area and can be adjusted as needed.

Agronico produces 46 different varieties of seed potatoes for fresh market and processing. One of the most unusual seed varieties is the Andean Sunrise, a yellow fleshed potato used for fresh market production. However, the more primitive potato varieties are now also becoming popular because they often have better flavor, particularly for the fresh market.

Agronico sells the majority of its seed crops locally or into mainland states, but Graham states that the export opportunities for seed potato production are also significant.