Vegetables are growing rapidly

The region grows more than 84,000 tonnes of apples annually and 72,000 tonnes of pears, some of which are processed at SPC.

Meanwhile, in 2019-20, the region grew 136,000 tonnes of tomatoes (both field and hydroponic) out of Victoria’s total of 169,000 tonnes. Gippsland accounted for only 10,000 tonnes.

The Shepparton region had about 1320 hectares planted to tomatoes from about 19 businesses.

The Katunga Fresh business grows truss tomatoes under 21 hectares of glasshouses and is planning to expand with a $10 million project which will include a co-generation power plant.

The business grows about 300 tonnes of hydroponic tomatoes in a week. The company also grows about four hectares of capsicums and four hectares of cherry tomatoes.

Another major producer in the region, Tatura Fresh, has merged with major glasshouse company Flavorite.

The company recently added an extra 12 hectares of glasshouses at the Tatura site.

The merger between the two businesses came about due to their close ties.

Both are Victorian family businesses that went into hydroponics in the 1990s and have worked closely ever since, with the Murphy family selling most of its product to Flavorite.

Meanwhile, a Tallygaroopna business is despatching pallets of basil and lettuce to wholesalers every week.

Aussie Produce Pride grows the produce in a temperature-controlled greenhouse, almost one hectare in size, from seedlings the business has propagated.