A local farming family have taken out two export awards for horticulture excellence

Five generations of working the land for almost 100 years have earned two highly prestigious awards for a local farming family

The Moffatt family don’t grow carrots for the accolades, but their export practices have earned two gongs this week for horticulture excellence.

And despite coronavirus throwing hurdles alongside its coughs and sore throats, Moffatt Fresh Produce has continued to deliver vegetables across the globe.

It’s earned them Hort Innovation’s Exporter of the year, and Growcom’s Queensland Horticulture Exporter of the year, both awarded this week.

Managing director Steve Moffatt said the awards were recognition for not just the team but also the family’s 100-year history that came before them.

“It was a very humbling experience, we don’t do what we do for the accolades,” he said.

Moffatt Carrots, a fifth-generation farming operation, produces fresh vegetables across the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Granite Belt.

Steve Moffatt.

Juicy crisp carrots are the family’s main product, but the operation is branding into delivering celery.

“We’re opening up a bit more in the market, but we’ve got some freight disadvantages based on the airfreight situation at the moment,” Mr Moffatt said.

“COVID has certainly been challenging, but more so this year we are seeing a significant increase in freight costs, not to mention some of the transit times when shipping our product into the Middle East.”

Mr Moffatt said the success was possible through industry experts at Ausveg who had allowed growers to participate in reverse trade missions and allowed greater access to delegates in the international arena.

“Ausveg have been instrumental in building our export market,” Mr Moffatt said.

Moffat Fresh Produce added export to its operation about a decade ago, but ramped up production during the past five years.

In addition, it also supplies the east coast domestic market.

Growcom chair Belinda Adams, Moffatt Fresh produce managing director Steve Moffatt and MP Mark Furner. PHOTO: Brisbane Event Photography

They pick upwards of 28,000 tonnes of carrots annually.

Mr Moffatt said the businesses was evolving its marketing tactics to better understand the customer.

“One of our primary focuses behind our business has been branding,” he said.

“We are getting the customer to understand our brand and off the back of that building relationships with new and existing customers.”

After presenting the award in Brisbane, Ausveg national manager for export development Michael Coote said Moffatt Fresh was now shipping directly to customers in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East.

“Steven Moffatt has been active in supporting a wide range of national industry export activities, and openly collaborates with other growers to support the growth in export of Australian fresh vegetables.”

“Moffatt Fresh is a prime example of the success that a business can achieve when it embraces the opportunities that are available in export markets. Steven is a deserving recipient of this award and I look forward to seeing him continue to develop new markets for his business.”

Presented by peak industry body for Queensland, Growcom and held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Horticulture Export Awards provided an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and determination of the State’s exporters.

“Everyone who was nominated for an award has demonstrated their commitment to the industry and made valuable contributions to its ongoing growth and success.

“I’d like to congratulate our Award winners and thank them for their continued dedication to our industry.”