These vegetables mean more than you think

TORQUAY'S Bayside Vegetable Production has been nominated by the local community for a Small Business Achievement Award

NOMINATED: Bayside Transformations CEO Tina Davie (centre front) with general manager Andy Barton (centre left) with their team of program residents and graduates in the Bayside Vegetable Production kitchen. Picture: Cody Fox

TORQUAY'S Bayside Vegetable Production has been nominated by the local community for a Small Business Achievement Award in the 2018 Queensland Community Achievement Awards.

BVP has been the business arm of Bayside Transformations for the past eight years and provides employment for drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation program graduates and residents.

The business produces processed vegetables for local and area restaurants, cafes, clubs and organisations which require regular fresh vegetable products.

General manager Andy Barton was a program graduate himself in 2014 before staying on with Bayside Transformations management team.

Mr Barton said after a long journey the business had stabilised and had a percentage of the market share.

"We have increased our bottom line by $200,000," he said.

"We give back to the community as well, before the government changed the requirements for the 'work for the dole' program we were able to have around 200 people come and work through the years.

"Of those we were then able to permanently employ five of them because we believe in changing our community and giving people opportunities."

If Bayside Vegetable Production win the community award category, they will receive a $2,500 prize from the Commonwealth Bank.