Cairns, Australia – Queensland vegetable grower, Belinda Adams, was tonight presented with the prestigious Syngenta Grower of the Year Award at the 2014 AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner at the Cairns Convention and Exhibition Centre.

AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy affirmed that the award was in recognition of the significant role she has played in the management and ongoing growth of her Gold Coast family business, Coastal Hydroponics, and her inspiring involvement in the broader industry.

“Not only has Belinda helped transform Coastal Hydroponics into one of the country’s most successful growing businesses, but her enthusiastic involvement in all facets of the Australian vegetable industry stands as an example to all of us,” said Mr Mulcahy.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing the interests Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

Based on the Gold Coast, Coastal Hydroponics is a major supplier of salad products and other leafy greens to supermarket giant Coles. Belinda is heavily involved in the running of the business, with her responsibilities including production, staff management, purchasing, product development, sales and marketing.

Belinda has significantly increased the size of the company’s hydroponic infrastructure, to meet increasing demand. She is also impressively active within in the horticulture community, having previously been involved in the Growcom Young Growers program in 2011.

She also currently sits on the vegetable industry’s Design Teams, and the EnviroVeg Committee. She has been instrumental in developing resources to deliver EnviroVeg Platinum, and is the first grower to be successfully audited under the scheme.

The Syngenta Grower of the Year award commends outstanding achievement across all aspects of vegetable and potato production, including growing, environmental management, staff management and quality of produce.

“The Grower of the Year Award is the highest accolade that can be bestowed on a member of our industry, so to reach such a level of recognition, is an impressive achievement,” said Mr Mulcahy.

Craig Thompson Head of Vegetables, Syngenta, said Belinda is a great example of the new generation of Australian vegetable growers that are leading this great industry forward, innovating both on-farm and in the products she is delivering.

“Syngenta is proud to continue to sponsor the AUSVEG Grower of the Year. We look forward to working with Belinda as her business continues to succeed in the years ahead”.

The 2014 AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner in Cairns honoured growers and other members of the Australian vegetable and potato industries for outstanding achievements. The event – the biggest in Australian horticulture – drew approximately 1,000 attendees.

Mr Mulcahy noted that there had been an impressive number of nominations across all award categories this year.

ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew MacDonald, Spokesperson, AUSVEG Ph: (03) 9882 0277, Mob: 0406 836 330, Email: andrew.macdonald@ausveg.com.au