Grown from the heart: The story behind Big River Fruits

FROM citrus orchards to a specialist nursery, Big River Fruits has grown from a practical need into an exploration of what citrus trees can offer gardeners with limited space.

For Big River Fruits owners Sue and Stuart Andrew, a moment came around 2019, with plans to upgrade a number of citrus properties creating the need for a nursery capable of growing trees for the operation.

What began as a practical extension of an existing citrus business soon developed into an opportunity to explore different varieties, rootstocks and the growing market for compact citrus trees.

“It meant creating a nursery and gaining skills to run and grow citrus,” Mrs Andrew said.

“In 2019 we bought the greenhouse and started growing trees for the block, and along with that, started growing a different rootstock.”

The venture was established by an owner whose background was not originally in horticulture alone. Having previously worked as a school principal, the move into nursery production for Sue required developing new skills and knowledge, particularly in the propagation and cultivation of citrus.

The first step was to establish the nursery, including purchasing a greenhouse and learning the techniques needed to produce healthy, commercially viable trees.

Today, the operation forms part of a broader commercial enterprise, supplying trees for its own citrus properties while also exploring specialist growing opportunities.

Producing citrus trees commercially involves more than simply planting seeds and waiting for them to grow.

The nursery relies on registered budwood and seed sources, with accreditation and compliance forming an important part of its production practices.

Experience has also played a significant role in the nursery’s development. Jason, the manager on the property, brings valuable industry knowledge, helping guide production and providing practical advice as the business continues to develop.

With over 30,000 trees on the property, it is a year-round job to keep the citrus trees in top shape and healthy.

“We pick anywhere from 90 to 95 percent of the fruit in winter, so that is a busy time here on the property,” Jason said.

His experience has been particularly useful as the business expands its work with different rootstocks, each offering distinct characteristics and potential applications.

They are currently redeveloping areas of the property, adding new trees and expanding for future plans.

Among the trees being grown are those on Carrizo citrange rootstock, alongside trees grafted onto Flying Dragon rootstock. While Carrizo is used for conventional citrus production, Flying Dragon is particularly interesting for its dwarfing characteristics.

These smaller-growing rootstocks open up possibilities beyond the traditional orchard.

“They are fantastic to have at home and are really strong plants that are easy to look after, so they make perfect house trees,” Mrs Andrew said.

For gardeners with limited space, a full-sized citrus tree is not always practical. A compact tree, however, can offer the pleasure of growing citrus without requiring a large garden or dedicated orchard space.

This is where the nursery’s interest in miniature citrus comes into focus.

The inspiration came from personal experience. The Andrew’s had kept citrus trees in pots for decades, discovering that trees grown on miniature rootstock could continue to thrive in containers over many years.

That experience prompted a simple but compelling question - if citrus trees could remain productive and manageable in pots for so long, why not explore the potential of growing more of them this way.

It was an idea grounded in observation rather than theory. The success of those long-lived potted trees demonstrated that citrus growing did not have to be confined to large blocks of land or traditional orchard settings.

For people living on smaller properties, or those who simply enjoy growing their own fruit in containers, miniature rootstocks offer another way to bring citrus into everyday life.

“It was certainly a moment our business expanded and gained traction, we have a strong local market and we also have multiple buyers in New South Wales,” Mrs Andrew said.

The nursery’s work reflects a broader interest in making the most of the space available, while continuing to develop the skills and systems required for commercial citrus production.

Although the operation began to meet the needs of an existing business, its development has created room to investigate new possibilities. The combination of practical experience, specialist nursery knowledge and an interest in compact citrus has helped shape its direction.

At its heart, the story of Big River Fruits is one of adapting to a need, learning a new craft and recognising an opportunity in something already familiar.

A few citrus trees growing happily in pots provided the initial spark. From there, the idea grew into a nursery operation with a practical purpose and an eye on a different kind of citrus customer.

And as the trees continue to grow, so too does the potential for citrus to find a place in gardens of all sizes - even where space is limited.