Zerella Holdings prepares to harvest first NT commercial potato crop in decades

Zerella Holdings, one of Australia's largest potato suppliers, is about to complete its first commercial potato harvest in the Northern Territory, a region that has not seen such production for about two decades. The company planted roughly 70 hectares of the Maranca low-carbohydrate variety on a pivot-irrigated farm just north of Katherine in May, using a mix of backpackers and local labour for the eight-week harvest.

From next week, the harvested seed potatoes will travel by rail to Zerella's farms on the Northern Adelaide plains, where they will sprout into food-grade potatoes early next year. Farm manager Jacob Pye praised the fast growing season, warm climate and ample water, which together reduced stress on the crop and allowed work to finish before the wet season. A processing plant and cool-room facility are also under construction on the site. Although feral pigs have nibbled at the edges of the crop, Pye said the damage is limited and manageable, and the company remains confident in meeting its production targets.