25 August 2020

AUSVEG, Australia’s peak industry body for the vegetable and potato industries, has announced the appointment of Mitchael Curtis, mango, melon and vegetable grower from the Northern Territory as a Grower Director on its Board.

Mitchael will replace vegetable grower Michael Quach, based outside of Darwin, who is stepping down after serving over three years on the Board.

Mitchael owns and runs Katherine-based family business King’s Farms, which is one of the Northern Territory’s biggest horticulture businesses, producing more than 5 million mangoes every year. King’s Farms began in 1989 and was one of the first mango growers in the Katherine region. The business has diversified into other melon and vegetable crops, including watermelon, pumpkin and eggplant, as well as an expansive apiary for pollination and honey production.

AUSVEG Chair Bill Bulmer has welcomed Mitchael onto the AUSVEG Board, saying the Northern Territory vegetable industry was lucky to have a strong and passionate local advocate with a wealth of on-farm experience that will greatly benefit the national industry.

“The Northern Territory is becoming an increasingly important sector in the national agriculture industry, with its horticulture growers contributing a great deal to this growth,” said Mr Bulmer.

“Growers in the Northern Territory are facing significant issues in sourcing labour, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite the challenges growers in this part of the country face, the industry is resilient and will continue to produce high-quality fruits and vegetables for local and international markets.”

“King’s Farms is a successful business with a long history of producing high-quality fruits and vegetables. Mitchael has proven himself to be a highly effective business owner and has a strong track record of industry advocacy for growers in the Katherine region. Mitchael will be a perfect addition to the AUSVEG Board. On behalf of the Board and the AUSVEG team, I congratulate Mitchael on his appointment and look forward to working closely with him to advocate for the Northern Territory vegetable and horticulture sectors.”

“I would also like to thank Michael Quach for his contribution to the industry during his time on the AUSVEG Board.”

“The Australian vegetable industry is an important contributor to Australian horticulture, which is Australian agriculture’s highest growing sector by value. Our industry’s growers are at the forefront of new innovations and technologies that are continually improving productivity and competitiveness. I look forward to working with Mitchael and the rest of the AUSVEG Board to ensure we continue to represent the best interests of vegetable and potato growers for the future.”

MEDIA CONTACT:  Shaun Lindhe, AUSVEG National Manager – Communications

Phone: 03 9882 0277, Mobile: 0405 977 789, Email: shaun.lindhe@ausveg.com.au