AUSVEG names grower of the year

Queensland vegetable grower Rob Hinrichsen has received the AUSVEG Grower of the Year Award at the industry’s 2016 National Awards for Excellence.

AUSVEG National Marketing Manager Nathan McIntyre said that the award was in recognition of Hinrichsen’s outstanding work across all aspects of vegetable production, including his adoption of innovative technologies and practices.

“Rob’s enthusiasm for adopting innovative growing practices is renowned throughout the industry, and he’s leading the way in establishing new best practice for the vegetable industry,” said McIntyre.

Based in Queensland, Hinrichsen has had an active role in the trial and implementation of innovative products and research projects, including adopting controlled-traffic farming practices to improve his farm’s soil health and using unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor his crops.

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.

“Rob is constantly looking for new technologies and practices to adopt on-farm, whether it be to increase the efficiency and productivity of his operation or to making his farming methods more sustainable. He’s a great example of the value that applying research and development can offer growing operations, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Rob and Kalfresh,” said McIntyre.

The 2016 National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast honoured growers and other members of the Australian vegetable, potato, apple and pear industries for outstanding achievements. The event is said to be the biggest in Australian horticulture and drew approximately 1500 attendees.