Wamuran

How did you come to be a grower?
I work the business with my brother Stephen after following in my father and mother’s footsteps. My father have since moved on to a different career path so Stephen and I have stepped up to take over the family business. With three families to look after – my parents, Stephen’s family and my own family of three daughters, we knew we really needed to expand the farm to ensure it’s a viable business.

What’s an important lesson you’ve learnt as a grower?
That Australia produces fruits that is exported around the world and in spite of the ups and downs of the industry it still remains strong and a viable business and lifestyle. We grow quality here and remain as true to the origins of the fruit as possible. We don’t’ tamper with it, it’s just a lot of hard work, full time dedication and commitment that goes into what we do. You have to love it and you have to be proud of it, that ultimately makes it all worthwhile.

What makes you proud/Passionate to be an Australian grower?
I’m really proud to be an Australian grower supplying high quality Australian fruit that is used to produce fresh juice that is clearly recognised as Australian grown. For me, it’s important to support the local Australian fruit industry to ensure that families all over the country have access to fresh and delicious Australian grown fruit and juices.

We have a young growers’ program – what advice would you give the next generation of growers?
Produce quality crops. Ultimately you need to be growing something someone actually wants, otherwise it will never reach the consumer. That is so heavily linked with the flavour of your fruits. If you cannot produce a flavour the market wants, then they will only try you one time and not come back. If you want something sustainable, my principle is, don’t ever give the public a fruit you yourself wouldn’t eat. The flavour and the quality is more important than the yield it brings.

People often think all fruits are created the same, but in reality, quality is hard to produce, can you tell us the hard work that goes behind the cultivation?
ake sure you get the timing right. Unfortunately knowing only the process is not enough if you can’t align it with the correct time.