In an inspiring story of Australian agricultural innovation, fifth-generation Queensland farmers have found a way to turn their wasted garlic into a premium product that's challenging China's dominance in the spice market.
From Farm Waste to Market Success
David and Andrew Moon, brothers operating their family farm in St George, Queensland, located approximately 500km southwest of Brisbane, were growing increasingly frustrated with the amount of perfectly good garlic they had to discard. While their Moonrocks brand successfully supplies fresh garlic to major supermarkets like Coles, significant quantities didn't meet strict cosmetic standards.
"We knew that our garlic that was going to waste was perfect garlic," explains David Moon, who describes garlic as "a lazy plant" that requires manual harvesting and presents significant growing challenges. "So we put our thinking caps on and said, let's see what we can make out of it."
Creating a Pure Australian Alternative
The Moon brothers identified a gap in the market for high-quality Australian garlic powder. "China produces more garlic than the rest of the world put together and most garlic powder in Australia comes from China," David notes. "We wanted to change that."
After three years of dedicated experimentation, the brothers developed G'day Garlic - a pure 100% Australian garlic powder containing no additives, processed onsite in their sealed high-care kitchen. This innovative approach transforms what was previously considered waste into a premium product.
Their current product range includes:
- Chunky garlic powder
- Fine garlic powder
- Seasoned garlic powder varieties
The Challenges of Garlic Farming
Growing and processing garlic on a commercial scale presents significant challenges that require substantial commitment. The process is largely manual, supported by seasonal workers from East Timor and Vanuatu, and demands considerable financial backing.
"There's a nine-month gap between planting and being paid," David reveals. "It's a huge drain on cashflow, and that's where Westpac comes in."
Peta Ward, National General Manager of Westpac Regional and Agribusiness, praised the Moon brothers' achievement. "With the right financial support, the Moons came up with an outstanding world-class product. The challenge for every farmer is seasonality. Cashflow support is crucial, and we're proud to help farmers like David and Andrew continue to feed Australia."
Currently available through their online store, the brothers have plans to eventually stock their Australian-made garlic powder on supermarket shelves. With crushed and pickled garlic products next in development, G'Day Garlic appears to be just beginning its market journey, demonstrating how Australian agricultural innovation can transform waste into valuable products while competing in international markets.
