Four family businesses in Australia’s horticulture sector will receive grants from the Coles Nurture Fund to produce more locally-grown fruit and veg, protect their crops, improve sustainability and help replace imports.

Located at Cora Lynn in Melbourne’s south-east, Todaro Farms will use a $78,000 Coles Nurture Fund grant to increase yields and quality by installing frost protection fleece and relocatable hail netting over their vegetables.

Todaro Farms partner Darren Todaro welcomed the $78,000 grant for his business.

“We take great pride in the quality of our produce and this grant will significantly enhance our ability to manage the challenging growing conditions that the seasons bring,” Mr Todaro said.

“Although we are a small family farm, we work hard to manage a professional operation and we are grateful that Coles can provide this support to help us grow.”

West of Townsville in Queensland, Black River Produce has received a Coles Nurture Fund grant to plant more asparagus and install equipment to process the produce on their farm. This will enable the family business to produce asparagus out of season and replace imported asparagus with Aussie-grown produce.

Black River Produce Managing Director Jon Caleo welcomed the $300,000 grant his business had received.

“This grant will enable us to realise the potential of growing asparagus in the tropics out of season to Australia’s current production period and in direct competition to imported product,” Mr Caleo said.

At Gatton in south-east Queensland, Sutton Farms will use a Coles Nurture Fund grant to increase water and fertiliser efficiency by introducing grow bag technology and a new irrigation system for its cherry tomatoes grown in the field.

Sutton Farms manager Brock Sutton welcomed the $400,000 grant for his business.

“I was blown away when I heard from Coles that our Nurture Fund application had been accepted. We are so excited to see this project take form and drive our business into the future,” Mr Sutton said.

In Western Australia, Harvey Citrus will extend the supply of WA-grown citrus over the summer by at least three weeks and increase local employment thanks to a Coles Nurture Fund grant.

Harvey Citrus operations manager Andrew Pergoliti said the $174,000 grant would allow his family’s business to extend its cool room facility and acquire solar panels for their packing shed.

“I’m speechless and very grateful to Coles that we have been considered and given this opportunity to improve and expand Harvey Citrus. This will fast track our plans for extending our season and supplying Coles with citrus into the summer months,” he said.

The four horticulture growers are among 12 small and medium sized businesses to share in almost $3 million in grants from Round 8 of the Coles Nurture Fund.

Mark, Darren and Emma from Todaro Farms will use a $78,000 Coles Nurture Fund grant to increase yields and quality by installing frost protection fleece and relocatable hail netting over their vegetables.

Coles Group CEO Steven Cain said the commitment of nearly $3 million in grants from Round 8 brings the total amount provided by the Coles Nurture Fund to more than $24 million since it was established.

“The Coles Nurture Fund was set up to support new, innovative practices, processes and technologies and we’ve been delighted with the calibre of the applications this year. At a time when food and grocery manufacturing across Australia is so important due to the flow-on effect of COVID-19, it’s terrific to see the innovative, forward thinking of small to medium sized businesses,” Mr Cain said.

AUSVEG CEO James Whiteside applauded Coles for its ongoing commitment to the Australian vegetable industry.

“It is encouraging to see Coles continue to affirm its commitment to the Australian vegetable industry and support local business innovation and development through the Nurture Fund,” Mr Whiteside said.

“With many growers struggling with rising costs and unable to invest in business development, as well as coping with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is promising that Coles is supporting small businesses in their efforts to remain competitive in an ever-changing global marketplace.”

“The allocation of financial support to Australian vegetable growers sends a strong message to the industry and to the Australian public that Coles is focussed on supporting Australian farmers and has confidence in the industry’s long-term viability and prosperity.”

For more information on the Nurture Fund, go to www.coles.com.au/nurturefund