A project to help Lindenow company Bulmer Farm Fresh Vegetables create new distribution channels and supply directly into major supermarket chains is being supported with $40,000 in Victorian Government funding, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull announced today on a visit to the company.

Mr Bull said this project will implement best-practice fresh vegetable production and on-farm processing in response to emerging market trends for the domestic and export markets, with the potential to create 10 new jobs and more as demand for production increases.

“Bulmer Farm Fresh Vegetables has found that a natural extension to its supply of salad vegetables to processors is the on-farm processing of its products and this project will implement best-practice fresh vegetable production and on-farm processing in response to emerging market trends for the domestic and exports markets.

"This is a local company expanding and creating employment opportunities and it is to be congratulated on its foresight and efforts,” Mr Bull said.

Two new temperature-controlled production areas will be constructed to cater for the increased production of processed vegetables, one to be built within the existing footprint and one to be added as an extension to the main operational area.

Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Peter Ryan said it was important for Gippsland’s economy to diversify and grow in export capability to protect itself from the impacts of climate change and carbon price legislation.

“The need for value-adding in the agricultural sector includes capitalizing on opportunities within food processing and manufacturing and developing more innovation and collaboration in the supply chain,” Mr Ryan said.

“As well as at least 10 new jobs, this project will create value-added processing for fresh vegetable products for the wholesale and export markets, delivering anticipated revenue from export sales of more than $400,000 per year within the first two years.”

Mr Ryan said Victorian Government funding for the Bulmer Farms Value Adding Process Plant project would be provided to Bulmer Farm Fresh Vegetables through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program.

“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative that enables regional communities to devise and deliver service and infrastructure responses that reflect local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.

“It is supporting stronger and more sustainable regional communities by building their capacity to drive development in their region.”