April 30, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Colliers Agribusiness is bringing to market Cheeky Farms, one of the largest mango plantations in the Northern Territory with operations across four properties and 283 hectares of well-developed orchards. 

Located about one hour from Darwin, across the Lambells Lagoon and Berry Springs regions, the aggregation also includes land in Marrakai ready for further expansion and possible diversification.

Colliers’ Duncan McCulloch and Jesse Manuel explained that the Cheeky Farms is supported by a full range of services and amenities and is in close proximity to advantageous export markets. 

The aggregation’s acreage is predominantly planted with Kensington Pride (accounts for about 43 percent of Australia’s total mango harvest) and R2E2 (accounts for about 19 percent of Australia’s total harvest) varieties, and has impressive water licenses totaling 2,319 megaliters per annum with excellent delivery infrastructure. 

Other recent structural upgrades include the construction of a 5,065 square-meter packing and grading shed, offices, amenities, and approximately 280 square-meters of cool rooms with concrete floors. 

“This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a highly productive horticultural enterprise of scale,  benefited by operational efficiencies, idyllic climate and an unparalleled location,” said Duncan McCulloch, national director, Colliers Agribusiness.

Aussie Mangoes

Australian Mangoes are mostly grown in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and although mangoes are grown in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, it is Queensland and the NT that combined account for approximately 95 percent of the country’s total crop, according to the industry body Australian Mangoes. 

The NT claims ideal climatic conditions for mango production, producing about 40,000 tons per year and contributing more than A$128 million to the economy. The harvest season in the NT runs through July and August, with the three-year average total production for the entire country coming in between 70,000-75,000 tons and a farm gate value of about A$185 million per annum. 

McCulloch commented on how recent changes in trade relations add to the potential for Australian mangoes, saying, “Mangoes are the largest horticultural commodity in the Northern Territory. The Australian Mango Industry has recently gained expanded access to key Asian markets and the United States of America with the removal of varietal restrictions on Australian mango exports.” 

Indeed, although Australia has shipped small volumes of mangoes to the U.S. since 2015, the majority of the 556,000 tons of mangoes imported into the U.S. came from Mexico. However, mangoes from Australia’s Northern Territory arrived in California in November 2023 selling for US$8.99 each, or nearly A$14 per mango. 

“Not only are Northern Territory mangoes attractive to export markets for their high quality and taste but also for being counter cyclical to major northern hemisphere producers,” said McCulloch. 

For any parties interested in gaining a significant standing in this Australian permanent crop, Colliers noted that expressions of interest will be closing on Friday, June 1, 2024 at 4pm (AEDT).

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and Agtech Intel News. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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