Agribusiness grant a sweetener for Albany’s Honey Earth Produce as pair set sights on new processing facility

The duo behind Albany’s Honey Earth Produce will trade an old caravan for a modern processing facility after securing an $83,000 boost from the State Government. Partners Carl and Sherrie Anderson were among 24 WA agricultural food and beverage businesses to receive a slice of $4.2 million in the second round of the State Government’s Value Add Agribusiness Investment Attraction Fund. Their honey, from the family farm on Frenchman Bay Road, has been generating a buzz for the past decade and the property will soon house a new processing facility, set to be running by January. The pair will increase their team to help produce and package honey from across the region to sell to local, national and international markets. Honey Earth Produce produces about 25 tonnes of honey and 15 tonnes of garlic a year. The new facility could help honey production ramp up to 100 tonnes a year. Mrs Anderson said the grant was the “extra kick” they needed to take their dream to the next level. “Hopefully we can bring in a lot more beekeepers from around the region and be able to buy their honey, help them package and do all those different things to help them prosper as well,” she said. She is also excited to explore the medicinal value of honey. “There is a lot of research that is being done at the moment in WA with medicinal honey,” Mrs Anderson said. “It is just a really exciting time because we can finally get our honey tested and figure out exactly how it can be used.” Mr Anderson said the grant had opened new doors for their homegrown business. “We need a brand-new facility, we’ve already got some contacts in China and Saudi Arabia and they are all really keen for this facility to be up and running,” he said. Mr Anderson said he was excited see his passion for beekeeping grow. “It is really exciting seeing the different flavours and textures and the bees are lovely to work with,” he said. “They sting you from time to time but the reality is the more I look after them, the happier they are.” Announcing the funding in Albany on Friday, Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the first round of funding had been “hugely successful”. “I think we are really getting bang for our buck and helping our rural entrepreneurs to take that next step and create a strong and vibrant economy,” she said.