Ever wondered how macadamias make their way from the orchard floor into your packet of Golden Crunch?
We recently visited one of our growers at Maccon Farm in the Bundaberg region, where farm manager Lino Brillante showed us exactly how harvest season comes together and the machinery that helps make it possible.
One of the most important pieces of equipment during harvest is the pin-wheel harvester. Designed to work through grass and real orchard conditions, the machine gently lifts macadamias from the ground using rotating pin wheels, while leaving much of the sticks and debris behind.
From there, the nuts move through the harvester where they are cleaned and dehusked. Inside the machine, rollers and cages help rub away the outer husk before the macadamias continue through the next stage of processing.
Harvest conditions also play a big role in the quality of the crop. Moisture in the orchard can make husks harder to remove, while warm sunshine and good airflow help create a cleaner, smoother harvest. It is one of the many reasons the Bundaberg region produces such high-quality macadamias year after year.
What stood out most during our visit was the care and experience involved in every step of the process. Harvest is not just about machinery, it is about timing, conditions and growers who know their orchards inside and out.
From orchard floor to your packet of Golden Crunch, there is a lot happening behind the scenes to bring you Australian-grown macadamias.
