Food Producer Story – Mackays Marketing

Tucked away in the tropical town of Tully, two hours north of Townsville, is Mackay’s Marketing. This fourth-generation family farming business is a proud supporter of Foodbank Queensland. Their farms produce a variety of fresh produce including bananas, avocados, and papaya, grown across several sites in Far North Queensland. 

During a recent visit, the Mackay’s team welcomed Foodbank Queensland into their Tully office, proudly sharing a map of their many farms scattered throughout the region. It is a wonderful snapshot of just how deeply their roots run in the Far North. 

At their banana farm in northern Queensland, the growers work tirelessly to produce one of Australia’s most iconic fruits. Banana farming is still a remarkably hands-on process, with each bunch carefully harvested by hand. In northern Queensland, the growers also contend with tough conditions like cyclones, making banana farming a truly resilient trade. Banana plants are made up of 80% water, and each tree produces only one bunch in its lifetime – just one of many surprising facts behind this labour-intensive trade. 

“Providing fresh bananas to Foodbank Queensland is one way we can give back to the community. We’re proud to help ensure Queensland families have access to healthy, nourishing food when they need it most.” – Nicholas Mackay, Mackays Marketing 

Mackay’s bananas are purchased by Foodbank Queensland at growing cost to help supply fresh fruit to the School Breakfast Programs, which provides a nutritious breakfast to students who might otherwise start the day hungry.  

Feeding kids provides so much more than just a meal. With a full tummy, children are better able to concentrate, participate in class, and enjoy improved learning outcomes and overall wellbeing. Each week, Foodbank’s School Breakfast Program helps over 400 Queensland schools offer cereal, milk, bread and fresh fruit, like Mackay’s bananas, to 50,000 children who would otherwise go without. 

According to Suki O’Dea, Community Programs Coordinator at Nexus Care: 

“Every week without fail, one of the admin staff from a primary school tells me their students say the Foodbank bananas are the best they’ve ever tasted. And they are very adamant about that – nothing tastes better than a Foodbank banana!” 

We are grateful for the support of Mackay’s Marketing, and to partner with them to provide fresh, nutritious produce to Queensland kids. This produce plays a vital role in helping children across the state start their day with the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive.  

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver.