Everywhere, people are hard at work in various workshops, buzzing around the yard or sitting around the smoko tables enjoying a few jokes.
General manager Derek King explains that Cargill's was set up by the Disabled Citizens Society in 1960 to provide a place for people born with disabilities to come and mingle.
Since then, it has become a source of employment for people with disabilities.
''The self-esteem, the pleasure [the workers] actually get out of being able to do something is huge,'' Mr King said.
It has been tough over the past six years, partly because of changes in Government policy whereby employers of disabled people must now ensure they get the minimum wage. The ability of each worker is assessed every two years and employers pay a percentage of the minimum wage based on their ability, with the Government topping up the rest.
The changes are good for workers, but it has changed the game for non-profit businesses such as Cargill's.
It suffered another blow in 2008 when Fisher and Paykel shifted its factory from Dunedin to Mexico. Cargill's did $400,000 worth of jobs for them - income that was gone ''overnight''.
Chief executive officer Geoff Kemp said they had been losing about $80,000 a year, but he was confident they would soon be breaking even.
''We have got to take what has been known as a sheltered workshop to a new commercially minded business model if we are to continue.''
The business has five main divisions but only some make money.
''Two of those divisions you would not define as profitable but they are the reason we are here, which is to give our guys the opportunity to be able to work,'' Mr King said.
Cargill's is innovative and always looking to add value where others cannot see any. For example, it makes pillowcases out of hotel sheets that have shrunk and sell them back to the same customer for $1.65 - the cost of a pillowcase from China.
Cargill's staff also clean and repair the headphones used by Air New Zealand passengers. This is the type of structured work at which Cargill's is very cost-effective. Wooden export-certified pallets and packing cases are a big part of the business, as is the outdoor furniture commissioned by the Dunedin City Council.
''We do all the timber work - really top-quality product, and in 10-15 years' time, they bring that seat back and we refurbish it.''
The woodworkers also make train whistles for the Taieri Excursion Train.
Recycling is tipped to be the next big earner for Cargill's and it has been dismantling thousands of old TV sets as part of the TV TakeBack scheme.
They have also been crushing and recycling oil filters from industrial machinery. There could be more potential in this area if more motor businesses collected them and paid Cargill's to recycle them.
Mr King wanted Dunedin businesses to contact Cargill's with any business ideas they had.
There were other ways they could help, such as sponsoring individual workers or Cargill's as a whole, or providing professional services.
