On 20 November last year, Gippsland’s most collaborative and innovative agribusinesses were recognised at the 2020 Food & Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness Awards. Three of the region’s major horticultural growing operations – Flavorite Tomatoes, Schreurs & Sons and Hussey & Co – were among those to receive top honours, as VegNET – Gippsland Regional Development Officer Bonnie Dawson reports.

The vegetable industry featured strongly in the 2020 Food & Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness Awards, with three of Gippsland’s top growers taking out awards.

It was pleasing to see that three of the four finalists in the Excellence in Sustainability category – sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council – were vegetable farms, with Warragul’s protected cropping operation Flavorite Tomatoes awarded the top prize.

Flavorite has implemented a range of sustainable practices that put it at the leading edge of glasshouse farming – not only in Gippsland and Australia, but globally. The operation’s investment and dedication to sustainable production ensures its focus on water conservation and controlling the environment (temperature, irrigation, controlled integrated pest management and growing cycle) is paramount.

Flavorite’s controlled Integrated Pest Management system has led to a significant reduction in the use of chemicals. The crops are scanned by staff, pests monitored and counted, and beneficial bugs introduced in appropriate numbers. It also uses mass trapping for flying insects and has a thorough cleaning process in place for weed removal. Almost 90 per cent of water used on the farm is collected from building run-off and stored in dams with UV technology now cleaning run-off water, enabling it to be recycled. Water usage is computer controlled ensuring each plant receives the exact amount of water to the millilitre!

Flavorite is also replacing plastic packaging with cardboard, working with major retailers and leading the way with them to convert packaging to cardboard. Cost is an issue but it’s an ongoing collaborative effort to find a viable solution.

Ninety per cent of Flavorite’s waste is plant matter, but this is contaminated with string and plastic clips used during the growing phase of the plants. Therefore, trials are being considered to remove the string and plastic with biodegradable materials, enabling waste to be converted to fertiliser.

Vegetable growing operations, Mulgowie Farming and Schreurs & Sons, were finalists in this category.

Chris Millis from Flavorite Tomatoes.

Further recognition

Schreurs & Sons was recognised for its Excellence in Adaption to Change, with the operation shifting from many decades of farming in Clyde to Gippsland’s Middle Tarwin. This was in response to several impacts including increasing urbanisation and warming climate, and to ensure access to a consistent water supply. Embracing this shift has not only enabled Schreurs & Sons to guarantee continued production, but actually expand its overall footprint.

The proactive design and planning approach has it held up as an exemplar to other growers in the region by the local catchment management authority, other service providers and authorities. Schreurs & Sons was also acknowledged as finalists in the Excellence in Research & Development and Sustainability categories.

Hussey & Co, which has property in both Pearcedale and Newry, was recognised with the Excellence in Exporting award.

Hussey & Co is one of Australia’s largest exporters of fresh salad products, with airline, supermarket and food service customers throughout Asia. Throughout the challenging months of 2020, Hussey & Co continued to grow, purchasing more land and expanding its export markets. It has created new opportunities for online sales, developed new products by co-packing high-quality proteins with their salads, and responded to Japanese Government programs that encourage the eating of more greens.

Industry supplier Omnia – from Morwell – was also a finalist in this category.

Jeremy Haw from Hussey & Co.

Recent activities

In other VegNET – Gippsland happenings, a webinar was delivered in November last year on endemic and exotic pests and diseases that are threatening the region: exotic leafminers, tomato-potato psyllid, tomato spotted wilt virus and fall armyworm.

We were privileged to have expert researchers present on each of these topics – Maddy Quirk and Callum Fletcher from AUSVEG, Dr Cliff Kinoti from Agriculture Victoria and Dr Helen Spafford from the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

These pests and diseases were identified as priorities through consultation with growers, agronomists, the AUSVEG Biosecurity Team and the Area Wide Management of Viruses and Bacteria Team. The webinar was well-attended, although not limited to those living in Gippsland. Survey data indicated that all respondents were at least somewhat concerned about pest and disease incursions and that their knowledge of the topics had increased as a result of the presentation.

Workforce shortages have continued to be at the centre of many conversations and it is hoped that by the time this issue goes to print, regional collaboration will have been effective and the pressure will have eased allowing growers an optimal end to the season.

The enthusiastic Regional Extension Advisory Group that was established last year has approved a busy calendar of activities for 2021. The Group is eager to meet in-person once time becomes more available in March to further refine the focus and purpose of these events and activities.

In the meantime, I will be doing the groundwork towards development of a biosecurity discussion group, an ag-tech demonstration event and promoting short and long-term career opportunities within the industry.

Find out more

Please contact VegNET Regional Development Officer Bonnie Dawson from Food and Fibre Gippsland on 0407 683 938 or email bonnie.dawson@foodandfibregippsland.com.au.

VegNET – Gippsland is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Project Number: VG19001

Cover image: Adam and Chris Schreurs from Schreurs & Sons.