Nippy’s squeezes new funding
An iconic Riverland brand has new support to secure jobs with a better way to pick the best fruit.
SA business Nippy’s has received more than $640,000 to add a new fruit grading line at its Waikerie factory, doubling the number of prime SA oranges that make it to customers.
The funding was expected to secure 100 local jobs and result in high returns for local producers, and is part of $12.7 million committed to the River Murray communities announced today.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt was in the Riverland with SA Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven to announce the local businesses that would benefit from the fresh funds.
“Within the Nippy’s Group there are several capital expenditure programs currently in progress and others planned for the future,” Nippy’s Group Joint Managing Director Jeff Knispel said.
“Funding these programs in these times can be challenging, so it goes without saying that we are highly appreciative that we were successful in our application to the sustainable communities program”.
Other projects to win the community funding include third-generation family business Venus Citrus receiving $1.7 million to upgrade environment and water infrastructure.
The Venus Citrus upgrade would benefit “60 Riverland growers, provide local jobs and regional export resilience, and reduce operating costs”, Watt said.
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A project led by Culgoa Vineyards received about $975,000 to go towards a $1.6 million new food-grade olive oil processing plant facility and bottling line in Renmark.
“We’re very pleased to be backing local businesses through this program, to help them grow and thrive in regional South Australia,” Watt said.
While Scriven said the funding was coming at a “critical time for primary producers, delivering much-needed support for regional jobs, industry diversification, and more sustainable agricultural practices”.
Three other projects received funding to run feasibility studies, including Riverland Winegrape Growers Association, which will use $70,000 to explore ways to use AI-supported technology to remediate treated vineyard posts, and Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine, which will use $50,000 to test less water-intensive crops for local grape growers.
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