Shane Eldridge eager to look to future after challenges

Even more so than when he picked up the statewide title at the Premier's Horticultural Awards for Excellence in May, although he was honoured by the recognition from other growers.

After being awarded the title at the AusVeg Show in April, Shane said he felt very honored to receive the recognition from other growers.

"I was definitely excited and shocked a little bit at the same time to be the winner of it and be recognised for the work I've been trying to do in the field," he said.

Shane has been in the industry for 24 years and said before he built-up Eldridge Fresh Organics, he had always had a passion for organic food.

"I've always enjoyed growing, from a young age I helped my parents on their farm," he said.

"I started off with tomatoes and then branched out from there. It's good to see your plants are growing healthy and just combating pest and disease issues."

Shane and his team have grown an abundance of organic food through Eldridge Fresh Organics in Murray Bridge.

The business grows produce including cabbages, capsicums, cauliflowers, celeries, chilis, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, snow peas, tomatoes and zucchinis, with all products bearing the Australian Certified Organic sticker.

After watching his plants grow, Shane said he had always enjoyed hearing his food had been well received by locals, with his food exported to SA, VIC, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania.

"We've got quite a strong relationship with local supermarkets in Pasadena and Frewville, with the local people coming in and buying a lot of organics," he said.

"It's super rewarding when people reach out and say they're enjoying our fruit and vegetables."

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To control pest and disease issues, Shane said he had worked closely with James Altmann from Biological Services for 18 years to try and eradicate the issue.

"He's developed a lot of beneficial insects to help combat whitefly, because the biggest pest issues are in South Australia," he said.

Along with pests, Shane said his business had been affected by the recent River Murray floods and was still having to deal with the impacts, after needing to keep the water up for his crops over the summer.

"At the end of last year it was so wet, and we definitely had issues with fungal diseases, because of the amount of rain we had," he said.

"We had the flood and we're still trying to get through that. It's receded, but there's still issues we're still trying to work on.

"We're relocating pumps back to where they're supposed to be before the flooding and on our pump sides is where we had the most issues."

Since COVID, the challenge of finding employees had been difficult, Shane said, but he was happy he had been able to secure quality employees.

"Production's slowed down because of the colder weather, so that's helped and then retaining the best employees that we can find," he said.

"We've got a good nucleus of employees."

To remain successful and get ahead in the industry, Shane said he had always checked the market to see where he should sell his food and where the shortages are, to avoid oversupplying the market.

"We're looking at maybe using plants that are a bit long in the nursery, that they call established plants, and we're just trying to do that," he said.

"That will help us from one season to the next, so in the colder months we can plant a bit earlier."

The demand for organic food had fluctuated in recent years since the pandemic, Shane said.

"I think it's pretty hard at the moment, as I know the commercial market have really struggled with their demand for fresh produce, especially with fruit and vegetables," he said.

"I think it's due to interest rates and people aren't out there buying as much as they would have before COVID."

When Shane looked to the future of Eldridge Fresh Organics, he said he hoped to eventually pass the businesses onto his son Tyson and daughters Chelsea and Olivia.