WORKERS at embattled Queensland smallcrop producer Barbera Farms in Bundaberg have been sent home today with indications they will no longer have jobs.
FarmOnline understands workers in the company’s packing shed were sent home at about 8am this morning, followed by phone calls later in the day confirming the termination of their employment.
Workers reported seeing security arrive on site this morning.
The instruction to down tools came with tomatoes, capsicums and zucchinis waiting to be processed.
The family-owned company which manages farms in Bundaberg and Bowen, slid into receivership in April this year when lender, Suncorp, called in receivers Ernst and Young.
The Barbera family was today redirecting media inquiries to Ernst and Young.
Ernst and Young partner Justin Walsh confirmed that a number of staff were told they would not be required today, with only a “very small number” of staff remaining.
“We have moved to a care and maintenance regime to protect the value of the property, with a view to achieving a sale in the short to immediate term,” Mr Walsh said.
“As a consequence of no longer producing crops, there will be less employment opportunities for the staff.”
He rejected a report that staff were assisting in packing up one of the Barbera family homes situated beside the packing plant.
Mr Walsh said there was only a small quantity of fruit within the packing facility and they were “looking at ways to achieve the sale of that now”.
The Barbera Farms properties have been listed for sale with Elders.
According to the property listing, the company’s Queensland farms cover 455.57 hectares.
The Bundaberg operations total 273.69ha over eight farms, while the Bowen operation covers 181.88ha.
The farms also have significant water allocations attached to them. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some properties have already sold to sugar cane growers.
Peter Hockings, acting executive officer, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) said from an industry perspective, it was tough to see the demise of an operation such as Barbera Farms.
“It’s hard to gauge what impact it is going to have on the industry here in the short term, but in the long term, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the horticulture industry will continue its current path, perhaps even with greater improvements,” he said.
“It is an unfortunate consequence of the horticulture industry as it stands particularly in the current climate where, here is a progressive, proactive business trying to make ends meet and be very competitive in the market place, to their own misfortune.”
He said if the farms were sold to a horticulture producer, then some of the workers may find ongoing employment, however there was a risk they could be turned to crops which rely on mechanisation.
Mr Hockings said without all the details it was difficult to know the circumstances behind the Barbera Farms situation, but it certainly posed a warning to the industry as a whole.
“You can’t discount the push for growers to provide cheaper and cheaper produce while the cost of inputs goes up and up,” he said.
