Anthony Di Pietro, Michael Simonetta, Frank Mitolo: Who are Australia’s horticulture giants?
Bill Bulmer’s work in horticulture has seen him make our list of the most influential people in the industtry. Read his story and see the full list.
Worker shortages, food-service shutdowns, export market disruption and soaring input costs all challenged Australian horticulture in 2021.
But despite the difficulties, Australia’s $15 billion horticulture industry saw significant growth.
Those people driving that growth were some of Australia’s top farmers who are responsible for making the tough calls and creating the innovation needed for the sector’s future.
And as 2022 begins, The Weekly Times has named some of Australian horticulture’s most influential figures.
BILL BULMER
BULMER FARMS DIRECTOR AND AUSVEG CHAIRMAN
Third-generation Victorian leafy vegetable grower Bill Bulmer is one of the state’s most influential figures, holding leadership positions on several representative bodies.
Mr Bulmer was elected to the AUSVEG Board in November 2014, and elected as AUSVEG chair three years later.
Mr Bulmer runs the generational farming business Bulmer Farms in the Lindenow Valley, in East Gippsland, which has grown into one of Australia’s largest producers of fresh salad vegetables.
Well versed in all issues vegetable-related, Mr Bulmer warned late last year the skyrocketing costs of agricultural inputs were a key concern.
“Being able to obtain our inputs for our businesses is going to be the critical thing for the next 12 months,” he said.
MICHAEL COOTE
AUSVEG CHIEF EXECUTIVE
And with concerns about horticultural inputs rising, AUSVEG chief executive Michael Coote will need to play an influential role.
Mr Coote stepped into the chief executive position in July 2021 after significant time with the AUSVEG Leadership Team, having held the role of AUSVEG National Manager – Export Development since 2014.
With a significant career in management under his belt, Mr Coote is responsible for bringing the vegetable industry and government together to improve horticulture in Australia.
MITCHAEL CURTIS
KINGS FARMS OWNER AND AUSVEG BOARD MEMBER
If you love your mangoes there is a fair chance you’ve had one grown from King’s Farms in the Northern Territory.
Under the watchful eye of Mitchael Curtis, King’s Farms produces more than five million mangoes every year.
In 1989 the Katherine-based farm became the first Mango plantation to be established in the area and has since expanded to include watermelon, pumpkin and eggplant as part of their produce.
In 2020, Mr Curtis also joined the AUSVEG Board as a Grower Director where he is responsible for guiding Australia’s horticulture sector into the future.
ANTHONY DI PIETRO
LAMANNA PREMIER CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND AUSTRALIAN FRESH PRODUCE ALLIANCE CHAIRMAN
Anthony Di Pietro is a busy man in Australian horticulture, as the head of one of Australia’s biggest national fresh fruit and vegetable supply businesses, the LaManna Premier Group.
In addition to his role with the $500 million company, Mr Di Pietro is the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chairman.
Across the country, LaManna Premier Group sells and trades nearly $400 million of fruit and vegetables a year.
This figure ranks the group as the third-largest horticultural trader and farmer in Australia – only the listed Costa group ($1 billion) and Perfection ($600m) are larger.
BELINDA FRENTZ
COASTAL HYDROPONICS AND AUSVEG DEPUTY CHAIR
Before joining the family farming business, Coastal Hydroponics, on the Gold Coast, Belinda Frentz was a primary school teacher for 10 years.
Since that career move, Ms Frentz has become a pioneer, who is now the AUSVEG deputy chair along with multiple other horticultural leadership positions.
Her rapid rise up the ranks is also demonstrated by multiple awards including winning the AUSVEG Horticultural Woman of the Year in 2013 and Grower of the Year in 2014.
EMMA GERMANO
VICTORIAN FARMERS FEDERATION PRESIDENT AND I LOVE FARMS MANAGING DIRECTOR
Emma Germano was born into farming and many years later she is more involved than ever.
After extensive study and working experience on her mixed family farm, Ms Germano is now the managing director of her family mixed farm operation I Love Farms.
Since December 2020, Ms Germano has also been the Victorian Farmers Federation president and was previously VFF Horticulture Group president.
The VFF is a major advocacy group for the industry and with the horticultural industry’s challenges set to continue in 2022, Ms Germano will be carrying a heavy load on issues such as farm labour and supply chain constraints.
SEAN HALLAHAN
COSTA GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Valued at around $1 billion, the Costa group is Australia’s largest horticultural trader.
And sitting in the hot seat is its chief executive and director Sean Hallahan.
Mr Hallahan was appointed chief executive of Costa in March 2021 and in that time the Costa Group has completed two major acquisitions as they expand their citrus producing capabilities.
Prior to commencing in the role of CEO, he was the COO from October 2017, where he was responsible for leading Costa’s sales and operational activities.
MATT AND DAN HOOD
RUGBY FARMS
The Hood family has been in the farming business for 107 years, with their sizeable Rugby Farms now spread across four growing regions.
The Queensland farming operation is a horticulture giant with the Hood brothers wielding big influence over Australia’s industry.
Across their different locations, Rugby Farms are responsible for around 5666ha of vegetable crops each year.
Leafy greens and corn are their speciality, with the Queensland climatic conditions helping procure their mountains of produce.
FRANK MITOLO
MITOLO GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
Potatoes are a staple of the Aussie kitchen and the Mitolo Group is one of Australia’s biggest producers of the white vegies.
The country’s biggest potato wholesaler is run by Frank Miltolo who is now in charge of 51,000ha of land and 700 staff.
Two key deals have created this growth, including the purchase of Thomas Foods International’s fresh-produce arm in 2020.
Frank’s father, Bruno Mitolo, first established the company in 1972, and he is still closely involved with the continual growth of their business.
SCOTT MONTAGUE
MONTAGUE MANAGING DIRECTOR
In 1948 William Montague purchased a carting operation which has led to the Montague name becoming one of the most influential in Australian horticulture.
The connection family is still strong with five of those who bear the Montague name leading their group upwards.
Currently in charge is Scott Montague, who is the company’s managing director.
He has been working in the family company for 18 years, learning the ins and outs of orchard practices, packing, distribution, sales and trading, marketing and export of pome fruits across Australia.
THE PYE FAMILY
THE PYE GROUP, ZERELLA FRESH AND PARILLA PREMIUM POTATOES
The Pye family are another of Australia’s most well-known and influential in horticultural circles.
Mark Pye along with daughter Renee, run one of Australia’s largest potato, carrot and onion farms via the The Pye Group.
In total the group looks after 32,000ha across 30 farms in Victoria and South Australia.
Offshoot companies Zerella Fresh and Parilla Premium Potatoes, are also part of their operation, as well as a 22,000ha family cattle, sheep and dairy farm Rushy Lagoon in Tasmania.
It is fair to say the Pye family are pretty busy keeping Australians fed.
JOHN SAID
FRESH SELECT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
With decades of experience in Australia’s horticulture industry, John Said has his hands full of fresh produce.
The Fresh Select managing director looks after around 2000ha of production, which includes the original 200ha farm at Werribee in Victoria.
Each year the group yields around 40 million kilograms, of which 95 per cent fills the shelves at Coles Supermarkets.
With such size, scale and connections to consumers, Mr Said is in charge of one of Australia’s key producers of veggies.
GAVIN AND STEPHEN SCURR
PINATA FARMS
Pinata Farms was founded by Geoff Scurr who started producing fruit in the 1960s.
Now it is Geoff’s sons, Gavin and Stephen Scurr who are carrying on the Queensland fruit grower’s legacy.
The Scurr’s manage 1,010ha, and hold the title of Australia’s largest pineapple producer.
Pinata Farms are also one of Australia’s leading producers of summer and winter strawberries, keeping fruit supplies high all year round.
MICHAEL SIMONETTA
PERFECTION FRESH CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Valued at around $600m, Perfection Fresh is one of Australia’s largest players in the horticultural sector.
Michael Simonetta is at the head of this horticultural giant, also serving as the AFPA chair for the 2020 term.
With more than 500 employees and 40 years worth of experience, Perfection Fresh has developed into a powerhouse under the leadership of the Simonetta family.
And as we enter 2022, the group holds significant influence, with the rights to several exclusive fresh products including their broccolini and baby cucumbers.
CATHERINE VELISHA
VELISHA FARMS OWNER AND EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Catherine Velisha is a leader and pioneer in the Australian horticultural sector.
After joining the family farming business, Velisha Farms, in 2004, she took over full ownership in 2017.
Since the farms’ humble beginnings in Werribee South, Velisha Farms is now home to several Victorian growing operations as well as a large packing facility, employing between 70-80 staff across all facets of vegetable production.
Ms Velisha has also earnt some individual success as part of her journey, with scoring the National Woman in Horticulture Award and AUSVEG Victorian Community Stewardship Award in 2021.
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