In late August a group of Australian vegetable growers spent a week in New Zealand as part of the vegetable and onion study tour program, funded by Hort Innovation.

‘These industry study tours provide opportunities for Australian vegetable and onion growers and supply chain businesses to increase their awareness and knowledge of the research and innovations in the global horticulture industry through the delivery of tours to strategic vegetable and onion growing regions, conferences, facilities, and innovation centres around the globe.

Over five days the group visited farming operations across the country’s North Island, retail operations, the biosecurity operations at Wellington’s international airport and were delegates at the annual New Zealand horticulture conference.

The tour group included Warrick Purden, the General Manager of Farm Operations with Hussey and Co in Victoria’s Gippsland, and Jimmy Fox and Calvin Parker, who are from near Manjimup in Western Australia, and both part of their family’s farming operations, primarily growing potatoes, but also other vegetable crops.

Campbell Cooney spoke with them about what they learnt on the tour and why they wanted to be part of it.