Geoffrey Thompson Holdings – better known as Jeftomson – is a vertically integrated horticulture business operating in Mooroopna in the Greater Shepparton region. The group of companies includes fruit orchards, a large packing operation, cold storage and transport.
Since 1949 the business has produced apples and pears, and recently branched into citrus and stone fruit following a $60 million factory expansion.
“Everything we require at Jeftomson is serviced in the local area and is perfect for what we do,” Jeftomson chief engineer Michael Parker said.
“We have just invested $60 million to revamp our factory and we used as many local industrial services as possible, with access to contractors and supplies. Shepparton has a great base for all these services and I’m sure it will continue to grow in the future.”
The importance of the GMID’s reliable water supply is integral to Jeftomson’s business as water is not only used to irrigate the orchards but also in fruit storage and processing. For instance, water flumes are used to float the fruit out of the bins as well as in the refrigeration of products.
“Water is very important for our company and the quality and reliability of the water here is perfect. We also have access to irrigation suppliers, pumps and infrastructure for our orchards,” Michael said.
“The agricultural benefits of the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) are phenomenal in my opinion.”
Capturing growth opportunities
Born and bred in the region, Michael currently lives on the land in the Kialla area which is only a 12 minute drive from Shepparton.
“I personally love living in the region. It’s a good place to live and work and we are situated within two hours of a lot of interesting towns,” he said.
“You can find huge employment opportunities, sporting clubs, housing and good services such as hospitals, schools and shopping. It’s an ideal place for businesses, with factories and all the industry support services that go along with it.”
Michael is confident the recent expansion and investment he has seen in the region won’t be slowing down any time soon, and this includes continued investment in Jeftomson’s Mooroopna site over the next decade.
As Michael put it: “There are big things to come.”
