OUR COMPANY
Tomarata Group Pty Ltd is the umbrella of two businesses:
• Tomarata Orchard
• Tomarata Sensual Conserves and Condiments
Tomarata Sensual Conserves and Condiments operates out of Pomona and specialises in value adding products made in the country kitchen of a Sunshine Coast chef using the finest and freshest of ingredients mainly grown by the Tomarata Group or sourced locally. Our products can be found at the local food markets or through our website.
Tomarata Orchard is one of the larger suppliers of lychees in Australia. Our orchard is located at Tiaro, 20km south of Maryborough and 40km west of Fraser Island in subtropical southeast Queensland at an altitude of 120m.
The land is gently undulating, sloping coastal forest falling 22m from a 28m low, red soil ridge to a 400 megalitre earth dam. The Tiaro orchard has 2 110 mature lychee trees of the following varieties:
OUR TEAM
John Pool – Director
John has over 20 years of farming experience. He has a background in hands-on trades and qualifications in quality control, chemicals and dairy. He has had 7 years experience managing a large mixed farming enterprise comprising lychees, stonefruit and cattle. John brings to the business excellent people and business management skills, solid tree, crop and cattle industry knowledge, logistic skills and operational savvy.
Kerry Pool – Director
Kerry has been actively engaged in the business since its conception. She has also been involved in farming for 20 years and has qualifications in food technology, laboratory and quality control. Kerry brings to the business marketing prowess, administrative skills, quality control, supplier control, cash flow planning skills and financial acumen.
OUR VISION
Our lychee season starts in December and goes through to mid February and we produce about 60 tonnes per annum. Thanks to our Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) that monitors the progress of the crop throughout the year, we can reliably produce, harvest and pack a consistent quantity of premium quality lychees each season. Our current planting program not only includes new varieties but also our tried and trusted varieties including Kwai Mai Pink (B3), Wai Chee, Salathiel, Sah Kan and Fay Zee Sui. 80% of our lychee trees are under netting to protect them from birds, flying foxes and to help with sun and wind damage. Our fresh fruit is sold on the domestic and export markets with exporters actively seeking our brand every time it goes on the market. We also have a SQI HACCP quality assurance system in place to ensure a safe, consistent quality product that meets customer and regulatory specifications and maintains our business reputation as reliable quality suppliers. We have some trial quantities of longans, dragon fruit, peaches nectarines, rosellas, Seville oranges, avocados, bananas and various vegetables to increase our locally grown value adding range of products.
