Grower of the Year Award partnered with Syngenta. Winner Steve Marafiote from Sundrop Farms was unable to attend and the award was accepted on his behalf by Mark McAra (Left) and presented by David Van-Ryswyk from Syngenta (Right). (Picture credit: AUSVEG)

Australian horticulture has celebrated outstanding contributions to the industry at the 2026 Horticulture Awards for Excellence held at the Hort Connections 2026 Gala Dinner in Adelaide.

Exporter of the Year Award partnered by Hort Innovation. Winner Francis Tedesco from Center West Exports in WA (Right) and presented by Julie Bird, Chair of Hort Innovation (Left). (Picture credit: AUSVEG)

Twelve winning growers, businesses, researchers and industry innovators have been recognised on the night for their inspiring achievements in horticulture, across production, research, innovation, community contribution, marketing and sustainability. The awards also recognised the importance of family businesses in the sector, as well as the crucial contributions of women in horticulture and the next generation of young growers.

“A big congratulations to this year’s award winners who have been selected from a full field of more than 100 worthy nominees across 12 award categories in a closely run race,” said AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote.

“The depth and breadth of talent and inspiring contributions on display among all award winners and nominees deserves to be recognised and celebrated as another reminder of what makes our horticulture industry so great.”

The Managing Director of the International Fresh Produce Association, Australia-New Zealand (IFPA ANZ) Belinda Wilson said, “Connecting with each other and hearing first-hand about the innovation, leadership and passion of our fresh produce supply chain has energised all of us at Hort Connections. If you can do better, good is not enough, and we’ve seen this week that we are ready as a united industry to rise to that challenge.

Young Grower of the Year Award partnered by Corteva Agriscience. Winner Luca Farmer from Farmer Group (Left). Presented by Nicholas Koch from Corteva Agriscience (Right). (Picture credit: AUSVEG)

“Congratulations not only to the award winners, but to all of our finalists for their drive and guidance creating a prosperous future for our industry.”

The awards ceremony was held during the Hort Connections Gala Dinner on Thursday 4 June, marking the culmination of Hort Connections 2026 in Adelaide.

Hort Connections is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticulture industry Conference and is jointly hosted by AUSVEG and IFPA ANZ. This year 3920 delegates attended from around Australia, New Zealand, and the globe.

Hort Connections 2027 will be held in Melbourne.

Horticulture Awards for Excellence 2026 winners

Grower of the Year Award partnered by Syngenta: Steve Marafiote, Sundrop Farms, SA

Young Grower of the Year Award partnered by Corteva Agriscience: Luca Farmer, Farmer Group, SA

Researcher of the Year Award partnered by Bayer: Dr Sukhvinder Pal (SP) Singh, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, NSW

Environmental & Sustainability Award partnered Butler Market Gardens: Craig Van Rooyen, Van Rooyen Family Trust, Qld

Tech & Innovation Award partnered by UPL: Charles Simons, BioScout, NSW

Community Stewardship Award partnered by Muirs: John Tselekidis, Mitolo Farmily Farms, SA

Exporter of the Year Award partnered by Hort Innovation: Francis Tedesco, Center West Exports, WA

Women in Horticulture Award partnered by NAB: Julie Bird, Hort Innovation

Industry Impact Award partnered by VISY: David Harris, Harris Farm Markets, NSW

Ag Tech & Mechanisation Award partnered by John Deere: Charles Simons, BioScout, NSW

Family Business of the Year Award partnered by Abbe: Ben Martin, Marto’s Mangoes, QLD

Marketer of the Year Award partnered with IFPA-ANZ: Flavorite Group – Maddie’s Month Campaign

Winner profiles

Grower of the Year Award partnered by Syngenta                                                                                         

STEVE MARAFIOTE – Sundrop Farms

Steve Marafiote is an experienced horticultural industry senior executive having held positions across a number of major wholesale and growing operations. As Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of Sundrop Farms, a major national high-tech protected cropping enterprise, he has overseen the business’s growth to be one of Australia’s major suppliers of greenhouse lines including truss and specialty produce. Steve leads a strong, diverse and multi-disciplined team at Sundrop Farms with a strong focus on relationship building with key stakeholders such as major retailers. Sundrop Farms have a strong track record of collaboration within the South Australian and national protected cropping industry. Steve has sat on a number of prominent advisory boards such as the South Australian Premier’s Food Council over the years where he has been generous in providing his expertise. In addition, at the industry and government level he is highly regarded and valued for his views on the protected cropping sector’s ongoing development in South Australia.

Young Grower of the Year Award partnered by Corteva Agriscience

LUCA FARMER – Farmer Group

As a fourth-generation grower, Luca Farmer, the Farm Manger at Farmer Group, is already a key driver of the business. Farmer by name, and farmer by nature, Luca is hands-on in every aspect of the operation from preparing land for planting to operating machinery and overseeing harvest, ensuring each crop meets the highest standards. Luca is often behind the scenes nurturing the next crops in the ground. Established in 1956, Farmer Group is one of Australia’s largest potato growers, and also oversees an almond orchard and livestock operations. Luca has become involved in various industry development activities in recent years, with the objective of driving the industry, and the Farmer Group’s business, forward into the future.

Researcher of the Year Award partnered by Bayer

DR SUKHVINDER PAL (SP) SINGH – NSW DPI & RD

Dr Sukhvinder Pal (SP) Singh is a senior research scientist internationally renowned for his high-impact food safety research in the horticulture sector. He excels at translating scientific research into practical, adoption-ready solutions, combining knowledge of science with an understanding of grower challenges. His flagship initiatives, including Safe Leafy Veg and Safe Melons, are recognised for delivering data-based food safety risk mitigation practices across production and supply chains and continue to strengthen industry resilience.

Environmental & Sustainability Award partnered Butler Market Gardens

CRAIG VAN ROOYEN – Van Rooyen Family Trust

Craig Van Rooyen is a progressive and innovative grower based in Bundaberg, Queensland. Craig is considered an ‘early adopter’ and actively works with tertiary institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to trial new technology and innovation. Craig also extends his ‘can do’ approach to the supply chain, boasting exceptional export achievements including export history by shipping the first-ever consignment of lychees from Australia to New York.

Tech & Innovation Award partnered by UPL

CHARLES SIMONS – BioScout

BioScout has revolutionised horticulture by replacing reactive disease management with the world’s first autonomous, real-time fungal surveillance network. Utilising patented AI and automated microscopy, BioScout detects airborne pathogens up to 14 days before symptoms appear, allowing growers to transition from calendar-based spraying to precision applications.

Community Stewardship Award partnered by Muirs

JOHN TSELEKIDIS – Mitolo Family Farms

John Tselekidis is the Chief Commercial Officer at Mitolo Family Farms which has demonstrated exceptional community stewardship through its long-standing partnership with Foodbank Australia. Since 2001, the business has provided a consistent weekly supply of fresh potatoes and onions, helping create a reliable source of nutritious food for Australians experiencing hardship. In 2025 alone, Mitolo donated close to 2.5 million kilograms of produce, helping Foodbank source the equivalent of 4,435,631 meals for communities across the country, redirecting high quality surplus produce that may not meet retail specifications.

Exporter of the Year Award partnered by Hort Innovation

FRANCIS TEDESCO – Center West Exports

Center West Exports is led by decades of multi‑generational growing expertise, producing carrots across more than 1,300 acres of fertile farmland. Founded by Frank Tedesco, who dedicated his life to vegetable growing, the business continues to thrive under the leadership of Managing Director Francis Tedesco, Frank’s son. Specialising in premium carrots, Center West Exports delivers a consistent, high‑quality supply year‑round. The company serves over 30 international markets, across the Middle East, Asia and further afield every week. Center West Exports’ operational scale is demonstrated by shipments of over 50 containers every week to export customers near and far, reflecting strong export capability and reliability.

Women in Horticulture Award partnered by NAB

JULIE BIRD – Hort Innovation

Julie Bird has delivered sustained, sector wide impact across Australian horticulture through her leadership as Chair of Hort Innovation and broader governance roles across multiple primary industries. With more than 30 years’ experience spanning RDCs, commercial entities and industry bodies, Julie has played a defining role in reshaping how the horticulture industry invests, collaborates and ensures R&D delivers value to growers. As Director since 2018 and Chair since 2020, she has driven systemic change across governance, investment decision making, industry consultation and capability building, strengthening trust in the RDC model and improving outcomes for growers. Under her leadership, Hort Innovation now invests more than $170 million annually in strategically aligned research, development, marketing and trade initiatives, supporting productivity, market access, innovation adoption and industry resilience. Julie’s legacy is one of system level change and a stronger, more connected horticulture sector.

Industry Impact: Award partnered by VISY

DAVID HARRIS – Harris Farm Markets

David Harris started Harris Farm Markets over 55 years ago, with their first retail store in Villawood, and to this day remains 100 percent family owned and operated. The business was built on David’s principles of fairness, freshness and a real love of food. He introduced the first ever system to connect weigh scales with a point-of-sale system and central stock keeping system he revolutionised the accuracy with which weighed items could be tracked through the retail chain – making freshness leaps that the rest of the industry would follow. David’s approach led the market in delivering high quality fruit and vegetables at scale and contributed to industry growth and market opportunities for both growers, customers and the retail sector.

Ag Tech & Mechanisation Award partnered by John Deere

CHARLES SIMONS – BioScout

BioScout has revolutionised horticulture by replacing reactive disease management with the world’s first autonomous, real-time fungal surveillance network. Utilising patented AI and automated microscopy, BioScout detects airborne pathogens up to 14 days before symptoms appear, allowing growers to transition from calendar-based spraying to precision applications.

Family Business of the Year Award partnered by Abbe

BEN MARTIN – Marto’s Mangoes

Marto’s Mangoes is a proudly family-owned and operated business that has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Australian mango industry, underpinned by a strong commitment to family values, innovation, and creating a sustainable future for the next generation. Marto’s Mangoes is a family-run business that is currently run by Ben and Ash-Lei Martin. Starting with 4,500 trees and now expanding to over 30,000 trees, Ben and Ash-Lei drive innovation through automation, advanced grading, and sustainable practices. The farm continues to grow with every member of the family contributing to the business. With strong industry leadership and community support, the Martins are committed to building a future-focused, multi-generational farming legacy. Ben also gives back to industry through holding leadership roles as Chairman of the Australian Mango Industry Association, Board member of the Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers association, and is the Vice-President of the Bowen Gumlu Growers association, highlighting the family’s dedication to shaping the future of the industry at both a strategic and practical level.

Marketer of the Year Award partnered with IFPA-ANZ:

FLAVORITE GROUP – Maddie’s Month Campaign

Flavorite’s Maddie’s Month campaign is a purpose-led retail initiative created in partnership with Coles and the bone marrow failure syndromes charity, Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision (MRV). In 2025, the campaign celebrated its 10th consecutive year and a major milestone of $1 million raised for MRV over the decade. Throughout November, Flavorite donated 15 cents from every specially marked pack of Flavorite-grown produce sold at Coles nationally. Led by Flavorite, the campaign came to life through standout purple packaging, in-store activations, POS materials, digital integration, PR, earned media and social content designed to maximise awareness and customer engagement. The integrated campaign significantly expanded national reach, strengthened emotional connection with shoppers, elevated brand visibility and delivered year-on-year sales growth during the activation period.

For more information about the Horticulture Awards for Excellence 2026, please visit hortconnections.com.au/awards.