Once solely invested in grapes for wine production, Elliot Rocke Estate has diversified their operations over the past three years.

After planting a crop of 4200 cherry trees in 2011, the business has now also set its sight on raspberries. 

Stage one of a seven-hectare greenhouse development is underway to grow the raspberries and the first crop was being picked on Wednesday.

An Elliot Rocke Estate spokesman said the investment in raspberries was a decision made about 18 months ago.

“About three years ago the owners started to diversify into horticulture and obviously the first initiative was the cherry trees. They started producing a really decent crop this year,” he said.

“About 18 months ago the owners decided to look into other investments. They looked at truss tomatoes, baby cucumbers and zucchinis. There was obvious investigation into climate and logistics among other issues.”

Elliot Rocke Estate will sell their raspberries to a produce wholesaler in Sydney who will then forward the fruit to supermarkets such as Woolworths and Aldi. 

The spokesman said Mudgee was an ideal place for horticulture projects aimed at the Sydney market.

“We are only 260 kilometres away. The fruit can be packed, shipped and unloaded all within 24 hours,” he said.

Initial investigations looked at four raspberry varieties and what was best to suit proprietary lines. The Estate has chosen what is known as a “dual cropper” that is sweet and provides reasonably high yields.

Discussion did take place over whether to use protected cropping (greenhouses) but it suited Elliot Rocke’s objectives.

“It offers more flexibility and you can manipulate growing conditions so effectively we can grow the raspberries 12 months of the year and supply them out of season,” the spokesman said.

The green or “hot houses” have both top and side ventilation and will be kept at around 30 degrees Celsius. The houses have installed foggers to keep the rooms cool during warmer temperatures. Plants will be drip irrigated and not grown in soil but fed nutrients.

The first 5000 raspberry plants were planted on September 8 2013, and another 5000 planted on October 11. Between August and September this year the second crop is expected to be due.

By April and May this year about 1.5 hectares are expected to be under production.

The spokesman said the project would create employment, particularly during picking times and he said the project was given development application approval through Mid-Western Regional Council.