Oz Group Co Op is a 100% Australian farmer-owned co-operative. Oz Group works with our members to process and distribute the finest quality berries and berry products for our consumers.
We are passionate about providing the community with the freshest berries through sustainable and best farming practices.
After the decline of the local banana industry, members of the Coffs Coast Sikh community formulate the partnership Oz Berries, beginning with 4 grower families.
Oz Berries grows to over 18 growers, allowing local families to continue farming on the Coffs Coast
Oz Berries purchases its first purpose-built packing facility in Woolgoolga, employing over 100 staff during peak season and ensuring the sustainability of the Oz Group brand.
The company continues to grow, producing over 600 tonnes of blueberries per year and hiring more permanent local staff
Oz Group Co-operative forms, allowing growers to concentrate on farming practices and allowing professionals to take over in production, accounts, marketing and distribution
Oz Group partners with Driscoll’s, ensuring a steady supply of berries for Australian supermarkets.
Oz Group opens a new packhouse in Isles Drive, Coffs Harbour: allowing for greater production and more automated technologies.
Oz Group introduces raspberries and blackberries to its farming and distribution
Oz Group opens its rural store in Woolgoolga to cater for farmer supply needs on the Coffs Coast
Oz Group becomes the biggest blueberry supplier in Australia, producing 37 million punnets of blueberries, 1.1 million punnets of raspberries, and 202 thousand punnets of blackberries in the 2017/2018 financial year
Oz Group installs a Cyro-wave machine to individually freeze Blueberries.
Currently sold on Coles Supermarkets across Australia
The Coffs Harbour Packhouse expands to add two more automated packing machines.
Oz Group has seven packing machines and is always looking at improving efficiencies.
This allows the packhouse to keep up with the continued growth in the Blueberry industry.
Freshcare is Australia’s largest on-farm assurance program that focuses on food safety and farming sustainability.
Oz Group Co-op Grower Members are all either Freshcare Certified or going through the Freshcare (or equivalent food safety) Certification. The Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Edition 4 is a Code of Practice that all growers must comply with in order to maintain their Freshcare Certification.
The growers are audited at their farm annually during harvest season where the auditor checks against Code Elements covering areas including (but not limited to): Water, Facilities and Equipment, Fertiliser and Chemicals, as well as Traceability records.
You can learn more about this certification here: https://www.freshcare.com.au/standards/food-safety-quality/
In January 2109, Oz Group Co-op growers participated in a pilot program with Growcom to learn more about fair employment practices in the horticulture industry.
What a productive day spent with Coffs Harbour berry growers from @Ozgroupco taking part in our #fairfarms pilot. #ResponsibleEmployment Thanks OzGroup Coop, thanks growers! Plenty of insights and learning we took back to BNE HQ, which will inform the Fair Farms design! pic.twitter.com/n5raAkJ0LB
— ThomasHertel@FairFarms (@farms_fair) 29 January 2019
In 2010, the Driscoll’s name arrived in Australia. Through partnering with Driscoll’s, Oz Group has access to top varieties of blueberry, raspberry and blackberry plants.
Driscoll’s are the marketing and distribution partners of Oz Group, located within the packhouse site in Coffs Harbour, enabling Oz Group to supply their locally grown berries Australia-wide.
The Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association is the representative association of blueberry growers formed in the mid 1970’s in order to consolidate and progress the Australian industry. One main goal of the association is to ensure an Australian blueberry industry that produces quality fruit and is profitable and environmentally sustainable. The market is expanding worldwide due to the recognition of the blueberry’s great flavour and health benefits.
Mountain Blue is a family owned and operated company, established in 1978. Through its partnership with Mountain Blue, Oz Group has access to the latest blueberry genetics and newly developed blueberry varieties.
Where are your berries grown and packed?
Oz Group has a membership of over 140 growers and is 100% Australian farmer owned. These farmers are located on the Mid North Coast of NSW. The farms are spread from Grafton in the North to Macksville in the South.
The co-op also has an organic grower located in QLD.
Our blueberries are packed in our state-of-the-art packing facility in Coffs Harbour. Our raspberries and blackberries are packed on farm.
How is your fruit harvested?
Every berry we sell has been hand-picked from an Australian farm.
Do you use pesticides?
Oz Group growers use an integrated pest management method, which includes the use of both natural and synthetic means to control pests and diseases. Oz Group growers use only registered products approved by the APVMA in accordance to label and permit directives.
In addition, external and internal audits/certification, workshops and extensive testings are conducted regularly to ensure our growers are highly competent through the production process of quality berries.
All fruit provided to direct to supermarkets is Freshcare Certified.
Oz Group Co-op currently has 2 certified organic berry growers.
Is your fruit GMO?
No. Oz Group growers use genetics created through natural and traditional breeding processes and developed by Driscoll’s Australia and Mountain Blue Farms.
Is your packaging recyclable?
Our punnets are created from PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate which is fully recyclable material.
How should the berries be stored after purchase?
Berries should be stored in the refrigerator in their purchase packaging to prolong shelf life
Do I need to wash my berries before eating?
It is recommended that you wash your berries just before their consumption.
© 2025 Oz Group Coop.
