Frank Musolino lives his life in pursuit of the perfect cauliflower.
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The 2024 SA grower of the year is passionate about produce - his Musolino Farms also grows broccoli, potatos and lettuce - but it is cauliflowers that are his particular favourite.
Frank's association with the vegetable industry started the year he was born, when his father Tommaso Musolino began growing vegetables at Virginia on a two-hectare plot.
Since then the business, formerly known as T Musolino & Co, has grown with Frank's sons - Paul and Steven - also involved and it taking in about 400ha across northern Adelaide and employing 26 people.
![SA grower of the year Frank Musolino with some of his cauliflower in his Virginia coolroom. Picture by Elizabeth Anderson SA grower of the year Frank Musolino with some of his cauliflower in his Virginia coolroom. Picture by Elizabeth Anderson](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/54aab784-a4cf-4722-9651-5ad1675b84a6.JPG/r380_412_5383_4006_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Frank has always enjoyed his time in the industry.
"To make it work, it's got to be a passion," he said.
"My passion is 'caulis' - where the 'caulis' are, I am."
While in the early days, they only grew their three varieties of cauliflowers at certain times of the year, for the past few decades, they have been growing year round, with about 20 varieties on offer.
But that does not stop Frank looking for the next opportunity for excellence.
"We trial every week," he said. "I say to the seed reps, 'if you've got something new, I want to be the person to trial it first'. We want to strive to be the best."
He said if a variety performed well, it would be gradually increased, while an older variety would be phased out.
Frank said key when assessing a variety was the yield of cutting, the whiteness - "they've got to be icecream white" - and the size.
While he has a hard-won reputation for being an industry leader in the cauliflower world, he is also open with his knowledge.
"If I know something about cauliflowers, even with people who are supposed to be competitors, I will share it," he said. "If I know something and can help you, I will. But it works the other way as well."
He said the community he had built around himself - of growers and buyers - was a close knit one, stretching back decades.
"All the people we deal with, we're friends," he said. "That's the part I love."
![SA grower of the year Frank Musolino with some of his cauliflower on the Virginia plains. Picture by Elizabeth Anderson SA grower of the year Frank Musolino with some of his cauliflower on the Virginia plains. Picture by Elizabeth Anderson](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/362d43a1-22f5-4c45-ab1f-6647d003845b.JPG/r222_649_5446_3372_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
This community, along with a strong work ethic, is what has kept him as passionate about growing vegetables as he was when he started.
"I just enjoy what I do, being out in the field. Somedays I don't work and I get bored," he said.
Frank said another passion was seeing the business continue to grow, with his sons and potentially grandchildren coming onboard.
But he said a big message from his bank manager was always in his mind.
"My bank manager used to say 'tell me what you need, not what you want'," he said.
"So we've always got what we needed."
Frank was awarded grower of the year at the Premier's Horticulture Awards for Excellence in May.
Jack Cafcakis, Cafcakis Nominees, Virginia, was named young grower of the year, while Joe Giangregorio, Rainbow Fresh, received the lifetime achievement award.
The industry impact award went to Anita Marquart, Biological Services, while Doris Blaesing, RMCG, was researcher of the year. Alecia Leav, PN Leav Pty Ltd, won the women in horticulture award and Paul Pezzaniti, Platinum Ag Services, was the biosecurity award winner.