The Country Kitchens team recently caught up with Sally Jolly as part of the Meet a Farmer initiative. Sally is an agronomist and farm manager for Smart Berries. Originally from Western Australia, Sally was a broad acre farmer now turned Blueberry farmer living in Mundubbera, Queensland.
Farming is deeply rooted in Sally’s heritage. Her grandfather, a drover in Western Australia, even inspired Nevil Shute’s novel, A Town Like Alice. Sally reflects on her journey as a farmer. “I barely know any different.” She said, “Through school and uni I was always involved in farming, so I always knew I was going to end up in the bush.”
Sally enjoys the diversity of her role. “I have a nice balance of being in the field and working with people while running a big business remotely from here”. She also values the rapid growth of the blueberry industry and her ability to contribute to its development.
Sally is actively involved with the Australian Blueberry Growers Association and Berries Australia. She is driven to advance the blueberry industry, focusing on marketing strategies and expanding export opportunities.
Sally walked us through the fascinating process of growing blueberries at Smart Berries. The plants are propagated at another one of their farms, then transferred to Mundubbera, where they are planted in coir (coconut husk) inside grow bags. These are arranged in rows on weed matting under large netting structures. The unique physiology of the blueberry bush, with its fibrous roots, allows it to thrive in this setup for over a decade. Thanks to Mundubbera’s favourable climate, the farm can harvest its first crop within 10 months of planting.
Growing blueberries in coir allows greater control over water and nutrient intake, enabling precise monitoring of plant needs. “We know exactly what goes in and out of the plant,” Sally explains, describing the meticulous testing of water pH, nutrients, and fertigation levels to optimise plant health.
With over 500,000 plants under her care, Sally describes the dynamic harvesting process. Harvesting is done entirely by hand in Queensland, with up to 20 harvests per year depending on many factors such as weather and pruning. During peak season (August to November), blueberries need to be picked weekly to keep up with their rapid ripening in the heat.
After picking, the berries are sorted in the field for quality control and then stored in cold rooms overnight to ensure berries reach optimal temperature to prolong their shelf life. The goal is to maintain freshness, with most berries reaching consumers within a week from picking.
Sally explains that the farm operates with minimal waste. Second-grade blueberries are sent to a factory for drying or sold at local markets. Berries unsuitable for human consumption are repurposed as animal feed for chickens, cows, and pigs. Second-grade blueberries are not spoiled; they may have minor imperfections, such as attached stems or skin colour variations that don’t meet supermarket standards.
Smart Berries also donate blueberries to local school breakfast programs, supporting school children’s access to fresh, nutritious food.
We asked Sally about her favourite way to eat blueberries. She said that she enjoys experimenting with them in savory dishes. Her favourite creations include pizza topped with caramelized onions, chicken, whole blueberries, and feta, or a rich blueberry jus served with chicken.
Blueberries are rich in fibre which is important for cardiovascular and digestive health and help to keep you feeling fuller for longer. They also contain vitamin C for a healthy immune system and vitamin K which is important for healthy blood clotting and bone health. Blueberries are also a source of manganese which helps us to convert food into energy.
Fruits such as blueberries are included in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating as one of the five food groups needed to be consumed daily for good health. It is recommended that we consume two serves of fruit per day. One serve is equivalent to 150g (1 cup) of blueberries which is slightly more than a standard 125g punnet. To learn more about the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating go to https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/.
We have a range of blueberry recipes including: Mim’s Banana, Blueberry and Oat Muffins; Banana Blueberry Smoothie; Pecan, Blueberry and Spinach Salad and Banana Blueberry Bread.
Empowering women through education and health is a priority for the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). The QCWA Country Kitchens program, funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, supports Queenslanders to adopt healthier lifestyles. To find out more about the program visit https://qcwacountrykitchens.com.au/.
