Adding almonds to a proud Riverland operation

For more than four decades, Lowana Fruits has evolved alongside the Riverland itself — shaped by family, hard work and a willingness to adapt.

Located in Cooltong, 13km north of Renmark, Lowana Fruits has been an integral part of the community throughout its years in service, and is well known amongst locals.

Today, the proud family owned operation is in its newest chapter, diversifying into almonds after generations spent producing stone fruit for fresh markets across Australia.

Lowana Fruits co-owner Mark Ceracchi said he and his brother took over the business during the 1980s.

“Dad was going into stone fruit and the fresh fruit market, and then once he got older, me and my brother Dino took over,” he said.

“Us two along with our wives Frances and Nicole took over, and when we took over we slowly built up, and we realised we needed more produce to keep the markets happy.

“We went into specialising peaches and nectarines, and we grew, packed, and marketed them ourselves, and went from there.

“The demand was so high that we had to expand, and luckily over the years we were able to purchase some nearby land, because we didn’t really want to go elsewhere.

“We ended up getting a grant to expand our packhouse, and from there on it was just all go with fresh fruit, and our season went from mid-October, through to early April.

“At our peak we ended up with around 40 people in the orchard, and we always had around 15 people in the packhouse, so it was a lot of people to look after.”

Mr Ceracchi said he and his brother were born into the business, having effectively grown up on the farm.

When their father moved to Renmark from Italy in his 20s, hard work quickly became a philosophy to live by for those working at Lowana Fruits, having formed local connections early.

“He slowly worked with all of the locals, and decided to buy some land down the track and get into fruit growing, and it just kept going from there,” he said.

“It started with grapes and apricots, and so as kids we were out in the orchard and vineyard, and I remember helping pick grapes.

“When I was really young we’d do dry apricots as a family, and then when I got a bit older my first job was at Coles, and then I ended up at what is now Foodland in the fruit and veg section.

“In the winter I worked with the citrus, and in summer I’d be with Dad, but my older brother, mum, and dad were running the stone fruit all year round, and then I’d come in during peak season.

“Dad had a few hip operations over the years, and then it got a bit harder as he got older, so we were happy to take over and expand.

“Dino had his own property at Renmark North growing fresh fruit, and that’s where the packhouse is.”

While the latest Riverland summer has offered unforgiving heat, it remains the citrus capital of South Australia.

The climate of the long hot summers works well for the region, and Mr Ceracchi believes the Riverland is known as one of the best areas to grow produce.

“We’re known to be one of the better areas for growing most produce, whether that be citrus, or grapes, and stone fruit is perfect up here because we’re a bit earlier than other places apart from Queensland, but their season is shorter,” he said.

“The climate’s ideal, and that makes it one of the better areas to grow stone fruit, and now almonds.”

These days, Lowana Fruits has moved into an area of growing almonds, something which will be in its 10th year in 2026.

Mr Ceracchi said the decision to shift to growing almonds as an alternative was made due to being worn down by stone fruit.

“Growing stone fruit wears you out, and we live in one of the better places to enjoy summer being near the river, and getting out and about, and our season was during the summer,” he said.

“It served us well, but we got tired and it got harder with labour, and so instead of getting out, we had a plan to change over to almonds with bits of our land.

“Luckily, one of our long-term employees decided to take over the stone fruit, and we went over to almonds and planted our first property in 2016, and we’re up to about 83 acres at the moment, which isn’t a lot in the business of almonds, but it’s enough for us.

“We could’ve gotten out, but it’s actually been better this way because I’ve gone from having 40 people in an orchard to now one, which is my son Ryan.

“He does most of the work, and he’s learning the ropes, and even we’re new to the game of almonds, and everyone said it’d be easier, which it is, but you still have to be switched on.”

Almonds grown at Lowana are supplied to local businesses such as Almondco, and serving the region remains as something important to the Ceracchi family.

“We decided to go through Almondco, so we just harvest, store them, and send them in, which is a bit different for us, because we were marketing our own produce, and now we’re just relying on another processor to see how we go,” he said.

“We’re getting used to it now, but you’ll always be learning, and the trick is to learn quickly so you don’t make as many mistakes if they do happen.

“Almonds is a lot of full on water fertilising, whereas labour is the opposite, so it’s been a big change, but it’s good because it’s more relaxing for us four.

“Ryan’s really good for us in being able to do what he does, and he gets the job done, and then he can go from there.”