The Lockyer Fruit and Veggie Cooperative Ltd is a member-owned co-operative established to revive Australia’s fruit and vegetable processing industry and bring ownership back into Australian hands. Fully registered and approved by the Queensland Government, the co-op operates on principles of community empowerment and sustainability. Membership is open to all Australians, with each member having a voice in key decisions and a role in shaping the co-op’s direction.
The co-op’s primary aim is to support Lockyer Valley Foods (LVF), an Australian-owned company building a $400 million fruit and vegetable processing facility at Withcott, Queensland. Known locally as “The Cannery”, the project is the first new major fruit and vegetable processing plant in Australia in 80 years. Spread over 55 hectares and developed in five stages, the facility will include canning, freezing, powdering and juicing capabilities, with operations expected to commence in late 2025. Once completed, it is projected to create more than 500 local jobs.
The plant is designed around sustainable operations, with a bio-methane facility to generate power from green waste, complete water recycling and a pallet manufacturing plant using recycled plastics. Over 80 innovative technologies will be incorporated to ensure a sustainable and fully integrated food processing system.
The Lockyer Fruit and Veggie Cooperative already holds more than 1.4 million shares in Lockyer Valley Foods, giving it a strong equity position. Its mission is to grow this stake by pooling contributions from members across Australia to secure significant collective ownership. Alongside this investment, the co-op has plans to fund scholarships, community facilities, farming initiatives and food development programs, ensuring broader social and economic benefits for the Lockyer Valley and beyond.
Through this community-driven model, the co-op aims to strengthen Australian food sovereignty, support local growers and ensure that profits and decision-making remain in the hands of everyday Australians.
