The newest addition to the tomato-growing complex on the highway outside Guyra was unveiled on Thursday with a formal ceremony to mark the $60 million occasion.

Local MP Adam Marshall, who’s described it as a huge boost for locals and a benchmark signalling a “very ripe” future for the Guyra economy, was among the political heavyweights there.

Upper House Liberal politician and former local Scot MacDonald deputised for the Premier and did the official honours, alongside former Guyra mayor Robyn Jackson and Costa chief operating officer George Haggar.

The MLC acknowledged Mrs Jackson and her council of the day for identifying the potential of the tomato farm and said they “moved heaven and earth to make sure they came, they saw and they built”.

Twelve years down the track from that Jackson council introduction, the workforce in the Costa Guyra operation is now 500, with the latest expansion providing for 170 of those required to grow, harvest and pack more than 210 million snacking tomatoes grown there each year.

Costa, now Australia’s largest grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, supplies tomatoes 365 days a year under the Blush brand and private label brands. 

It’s pretty much a done deal that when you buy a Blush tomato in Tamworth or around this region, they’ve come down the highway from the highlands town after having been grown in one of Australia’s largest and most advanced glasshouse facilities.

The latest addition is a $60 million development and involved construction over 10 hectares in two five-hectare high-tech glasshouses, adding to the 20 hectares already there. It’s now about the size of 12 AFL footy fields.

Costa Group’s chief operating officer George Haggar said that together with the company’s existing 20 hectares located in Elm St Guyra, Costa generated significant economic activity in Guyra and the New England region.

And he thanked and acknowledged the NSW government and Guyra Shire Council for their support in helping to make the investment a reality.

The government funded the roadworks and the construction of the new entrance from the New England Highway to the location of the new glasshouses, providing easier and safer access to the site. This was estimated at about $2 million.

Regional Development Minister John Barilaro said Costa was a great example of how regional businesses could diversify and thrive.

“Costa is a major Australian grower, packer and marketer of fresh produce, and supplies to Australian supermarkets and wholesale markets, as well as exporting to Asia, North America and Europe,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Haggar also emphasised the local workers and their commitment.

“Over the decade or more that we have been operating in Guyra, our workforce and key local people have done an outstanding job in establishing Costa as leader in protected cropping and glasshouse horticulture,” he said.

Costa operates principally in four core categories: berries, mushrooms, glass-house tomatoes and citrus. 

Mr MacDonald told guests the productivity of the operation was world-class – but significantly, the efficiency of land, labour, capital, water, fertiliser and every conceivable input was unparalleled.

“These glasshouse tomatoes use 95 per cent less pesticides compared to field crops, 90 per cent less water, and 80 per cent  less fertiliser,” he said.

And he paid tribute to the Costa business philosophy, saying they hadn’t just talked about regional development – they’d gone out and delivered.

“The NSW government, through the Department of Industry, and Guyra council have been supportive and provided some assistance,” Mr MacDonald said.

“But it is Costas that have developed the business plan; secured finance; taken the risk; and gotten on with the job of building a significant, expanding enterprise making a material difference to this town and this region.”