Three generations of proud, Tasmanian service.
JG Broun is a third generation family-owned and operated business specialising in quality seed potato development and processing. Servicing customers across Tasmania, JG Broun prides itself in delivering a quality service in a timely, cost effective and professional manner.
Learn about our History in the video above:
Seed vs Speculative Commercial Storage
Storage of commercial potatoes was and remains incredibly unpredictable.
Using speculative, new technologies we discovered efficiencies that would help provide better quality control, meaning greater value for our clients and ultimately their customers.
The first experiment was of whole seed and cut seed in butts or open bags, folded down into quarter bags, placed into cool stores at 2-4 degrees to be hibernated under controlled conditions.
A Change from bags to bins
Hot air rises and cold air sinks.
More convenient from a logistical perspective, the move from bags to bins meant better use of oxygen and carbon dioxide between potato seeds, pieces or tubers, resulting in better circulation. This let the potatoes breathe, meaning they remained alive and were of greater quality throughout the storage process. This shift took place over the course of the 1970’s and remains a staple of our business today.
A fork in the road
Forklifts become a major part of the everyday handling of customer’s seed and commercial potatoes.
In a bid to better our capabilities, efficiency and the health and wellbeing of our employees, our forklift capacity was increased significantly, leading to advancements in handling, loading and bin tipping (emptying).
Forklift technology, safety and attachments continue to improve.
The move to one tonne bins and a continuation of family management.
We have always focused on the safety, quality and cleanliness of our bins, but the 90’s saw us increase our capacity as well.
Remaining the standard to this day, one tonne bins are not only a universal standard but at the time they provided a significant increase in efficiency.
Industry-wide Improvements
Seed grower’s improvements in quality, yield and management, saw an increase in the quantity and quality of potatoes from the commercial grower to the consumer.
Helping to capitalise on these new advancements, we increased the efficiency of our grading and quality of seed to the grower, for better commercial results.
New, quicker and more efficient machinery (and refined processing) saw improvements in the certified seed product.
Continual reinvestment in cool storage, dry storage, warming rooms and facilities.
Starting with modest apple and cheese storage, our original cool stores were small in number and size, rotating through different phases as the seasons passed.
As the business moved to primarily potato seed storage we increased cool storage capacity to over 20 cool store rooms during the 2010’s and these vary in size.
2010 also saw our team take home a major Tasmanian Agricultural award, courtesy of Simplot (find out more).
Better Grading.
In the early 2020’s we made a substantial investment, importing a quality, sensitive grader from Britain. This increased efficiency, quality, volume and led to a faster finished product, for greater control in healing and cool storage.
Our new grader allows us the ability to easily grade seed potatoes into three sizes. This includes rounds, medium sized (requiring cutting) and oversized, giving more options for planting.
As the 2020’s continue, we are always looking to new technologies to further increase efficiency and value for our customers.
