AN innovative greenhouse vegetable grower and packer in Adelaide’s north has claimed the title of Ausveg SA grower of the year.
P’Petual Holdings managing director Henry Liu, Buckland Park, received the award at the industry’s Awards for Excellence last week.
Ausveg SA state manager Jordan Brooke-Barnett said the award recognised the work done by Mr Liu in growing his greenhouse business into a high-tech glasshouse enterprise.
“Henry is an inspirational example of how a modern farm can grow into a high-tech operation and business through commitment, investment and focus on serving the market with an exceptional product,” Mr Brooke-Barnett said.
“He is an inspiration to other growers in the state, as well as to the broader community at a time when the state is looking for business champions to lead an economic revival and provide jobs for the future.”
On the same night, capsicum grower and HortEx Alliance deputy chair Zurriyet Braham won the Ausveg SA Women in Horticulture Award.
Mrs Braham and husband Andrew run Braham Produce at Virginia and produce more than 200,000 kilograms of capsicum each year.
They have worked with SARDI on a number of trials including the application of soil fumigation for southern root knot nematode and the use of ultraviolet instrument technology to reduce ethylene gas production to increase shelf life of fruit.