2022 Nominees: Young Grower of the Year

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Damien Manno from Quality Harvest AUSVEG selected Mr Manno for the award as recognition for his hard work, innovation, and dedication to excellence.

Young Grower of the Year 2022

South Australia's Damien Manno from Quality Harvest in Kudla was announced as the 2022 Corteva Young Grower of the Year. AUSVEG selected Mr Manno for the award as recognition for his hard work, innovation, and dedication to excellence.

They highlighted Damien's development of the 'herbaliscious' basil brand, which provides basil to consumers with rootstock intact for a higher quality product and better shelf life. As well as the significant growth of his basil and hydroponic strawberry operation and the active role he plays as an emerging leader in horticulture. Definitely one to watch!

Ruby Daly, Age 27, Business Manager, Marion Bay TAS

Business	Daly Farms and Hellfire Bluff Distillery
Crop Focus	Potatoes
Methods	Conventional
Young Grower Challenges	As young growers, we need to be resilient and adaptable to innovate and navigate constant changes, from cost increases and climate change to skilled worker shortages.
In 5 years I'll be:	Still learning and finding new solutions to successfully take the farm forward for another generation.

Joshua Maunder, Age 32, Business Owner, Babinda QLD

Business	Aus-Ex Fruit
Crop Focus	Exotic Tropicals (Rambutan and Jackfruit) and Tree Crops
Methods	High-density, semi supported on single espalier style trellis.
Young Grower Challenges	Access to Finance. Access to affordable land. Enhanced Regulation. Access to Staff. Uncertainty in Global Economics. Changing weather patterns.
When and why did you get involved in agriculture?	Approximately 2012. I was excited about the emerging Exotic Tropical Fruit Industry and the potential for diversification of Northern Australian Agriculture.

Nicole Stevens, Age 29, Farm Manager, Pinnaroo SA

Business	The South Australian Potato Company
Crop Focus	Potatoes
Methods	Conventional & IPM
Young Grower Challenges	Being accepted into the industry and sourcing good workers and mentors willing to pass on their knowledge. Costs of fertiliser and diesel.
In 5 years I'll be:	Managing a large-scale horticulture property and keeping up to date with the latest technology, which has the potential to develop into growing practises.

Sam Boyce, Age 33, Orchard Operations Manager, Tatura VIC

Business	MJ Hall & Sons
Crop Focus	Apples, Pears and Plums
Methods	IPM Friendly
Young Grower Challenges	Finding seasonal staff, bringing more younger people into horticulture, changing orchards over from older styles to newer more productive growing styles.
In 5 years I'll be:	I see myself still highly involved in horticulture. Implementing more technology into business. Empowering the new generation of growers to succeed in growing high quality produce.

Ross Pirrone, Age 32, Farm Manager, Ayr, QLD

Business	Pirrone Brothers
Crop Focus	Zucchini, Eggplant, Capsicum (Field Crops) Lebanese Cucumber (Protected Cropping)
Methods	Conventional, IPM, and Protected Cropping
Young Grower Challenges	Finance, worker shortage.
In 5 years I'll be:	Farming, just bigger.

Craig Dingle, Age 28, Agricultural director, Kalbar, QLD

Business	Kalfresh
Crop Focus	Kalfresh grows a mix of crops, conventionally and organically. In particular I am responsible for Carrots, Onions, Green Beans and Sweet Corn in the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Southern Downs regions.
Methods	Conventional farming practices, focused on soil health.
Young Grower Challenges	Rising agricultural land values and the difficulties associated with attracting people to horticulture as a career. Looking ahead, I believe ensuring access to a reliable casual labour force, managing the tightening margins throughout the supply chain, and maintaining a social licence to operate as being the major challenges we as young growers will have to deal with.
In 5 years I'll be:	Continuing the expansion of our farming business and the development of a farming system that increases farm productivity whilst reducing inputs required.

As well as:

Ryan Marr, Marrbiz Pty Ltd, Trentham Cliffs, NSW
Marlon Motlop, The Native Co, Adelaide, SA
Carl Young, Redgold, Wemen, VIC
Michael and Jason Agosta, AAA Farms, Werribee South, VIC
Damien Manno, Quality Harvest, Kudla, SA (Winner)

Ruby Daly, 27-year-old Business Manager of Daly Farms and Hellfire Bluff Distillery in Tasmania, is one of the national award contenders.

As well as:

Ryan Marr, Marrbiz Pty Ltd, Trentham Cliffs, NSW
Marlon Motlop, The Native Co, Adelaide, SA
Carl Young, Redgold, Wemen, VIC
Michael and Jason Agosta, AAA Farms, Werribee South, VIC
Damien Manno, Quality Harvest, Kudla, SA (Winner)

Past Winners and Nominees

Corteva Agricience have been proud sponsors of the annual Hort Innovations Young Grower of the Year award since 2018. Meet all of our past winners and nominees.

2019

2019 Young Grower of the Year, Daniel Hoffman is a 35-year-old vegetable grower from Penfield, South Australia, specialising in IPM and Biodynamic farming of Tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant, cucumber and bunch lins.

Meet the 2019 Nominees

2021

Potato grower Xavier Toohey from Wallace in Victoria was the 2021 Winner of the Young Grower of the Year Award. Xavier was praised for his leadership and tenacity.

Meet the 2021 Nominees