Meet the Queensland couple who juggle full-time work and growing dragon fruit

What started as a simple hobby for Sue and Gary Lee has grown into a 3,000 plant dragon fruit farm supplying fresh produce from central Queensland to Melbourne.
The brightly colored exotic fruit comes in over 100 varieties, which require hand pollination at night.
The Lees knew nothing on the tropical fruit until he tasted it on a trip to Vietnam seven years ago.
They planted 50 cactus cuttings in a paddock near from Rockhampton to try something new.
"We've grown from a handful of factories to over 3,000 factories," Lee said.
< figure class="HTQDr _8ohDw yvdCO IfoSG" role="group" data-print="inline-media" aria-labelledby="101895018" data -component="Figure" data-uri="coremedia://imageproxy/101895018" >Gary and Sue Lee run a dragon fruit plantation in Alton Downs, central Queensland. (ABC Capricornia: Erin Semmler)
AgriFutures Australia said domestic demand for fresh dragon fruit has "increased rapidly", with the average price rising from $3 per kilogram in 2012 to $5 per kilogram in 2020.

Lisa Vincze, professor of nutrition and dietetics at Griffith University, said early research has shown the fruit has unique health benefits.
"In terms of fruit to eat, absolutely, it's a good fruit," she said. .
Juggling two jobs
Mr. Lee works in a mine e underground coal every other week while Ms. Lee runs a daycare four days a week.
But gee, e also put in full-time hours planting.
< p class="_39n3n">"We still want to plant 400 more [plants] and we're at about 92 different dragon fruit varieties," Lee said.
In Outside of her usual work day, Ms. Lee picks fruit, takes cuttings or mows the lawn.
"We" I'm not afraid of a little hard work ", she said.
"I think what you put into your farm is what you get out of it too, if you don't put all the work in you don't benefits."
Dragon fruit comes in many different varieties, variable in color. (Provided: Lee's Dragonfruit Plantation)
Mr. Lee works in coal mine safety, but enjoys the labor-intensive process of plantation management.
"When I come home, it's agricultural work in its own right," he said.< /p>
"It's irrigation, fertilization, lots of pruning, [and] the picking is done by hand.
"Even though it's hard work and it's hot because it's a summer flowering plant, I find it really rewarding, especially when you get a nice quality, very big fruit."

Agrotech Jan 30, 2023 0 79 Add to Reading List

Meet the Queensland couple who juggle full-time work and growing dragon fruit

What started as a simple hobby for Sue and Gary Lee has grown into a 3,000 plant dragon fruit farm supplying fresh produce from central Queensland to Melbourne.

The brightly colored exotic fruit comes in over 100 varieties, which require hand pollination at night.

The Lees knew nothing on the tropical fruit until he tasted it on a trip to Vietnam seven years ago.

They planted 50 cactus cuttings in a paddock near from Rockhampton to try something new.

"We've grown from a handful of factories to over 3,000 factories," Lee said.

< figure class="HTQDr _8ohDw yvdCO IfoSG" role="group" data-print="inline-media" aria-labelledby="101895018" data -component="Figure" data-uri="coremedia://imageproxy/101895018" >

Gary and Sue standing side by side among berry plants bright green dragon smiling.

Gary and Sue Lee run a dragon fruit plantation in Alton Downs, central Queensland. (ABC Capricornia: Erin Semmler)

AgriFutures Australia said domestic demand for fresh dragon fruit has "increased rapidly", with the average price rising from $3 per kilogram in 2012 to $5 per kilogram in 2020.

Lisa Vincze, professor of nutrition and dietetics at Griffith University, said early research has shown the fruit has unique health benefits.

"In terms of fruit to eat, absolutely, it's a good fruit," she said. .

Juggling two jobs

Mr. Lee works in a mine e underground coal every other week while Ms. Lee runs a daycare four days a week.

But gee, e also put in full-time hours planting.

< p class="_39n3n">"We still want to plant 400 more [plants] and we're at about 92 different dragon fruit varieties," Lee said.

In Outside of her usual work day, Ms. Lee picks fruit, takes cuttings or mows the lawn.

"We" I'm not afraid of a little hard work ", she said.

"I think what you put into your farm is what you get out of it too, if you don't put all the work in you don't benefits."

Yellow Dragon Fruit v yew loaded in crates next to cacti on the farm, blue sky.

Mr. Lee works in coal mine safety, but enjoys the labor-intensive process of plantation management.

"When I come home, it's agricultural work in its own right," he said.< /p>

"It's irrigation, fertilization, lots of pruning, [and] the picking is done by hand.

"Even though it's hard work and it's hot because it's a summer flowering plant, I find it really rewarding, especially when you get a nice quality, very big fruit."