Brendon Hoyle has been named Farmer of the Year at the 2022 Australian Organic Industry Awards
Growing the sweetest berries is an art and a science according to Brendon Hoyle, who has been named as the organic industry’s Farmer of the Year for 2022.
Brendon, who is co-owner and operator of Ashbern Farms in Queensland, received the title at the Australian Organic Industry Awards at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, hosted by peak industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL).
“This is such a privilege, and an achievement our team is proud to share for all the hard work, not only in growing but picking and packing and tackling the challenges along the way,” Brendon said.
“We’re never satisfied with just excellence – we continually aim to reach new heights by analysing and improving our growing technique.
“We want to be innovative and keep staying abreast of current trends, acquiring knowledge of worldwide research, and partnering with experts to help us achieve our goals.
“That’s where I get my biggest reward, understanding how the crops function and how they work and quality checking at all stages to produce the best experience in the punnet for our customers.
“It’s not always easy, especially with the weather,” Brendon added.
Ashbern Farms grows organic winter strawberries across 4.2 hectares of land on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, as well as conventional summer strawberries in Stanthorpe Qld.
Working with entomologists, Brendon uses eight biological control agents (beneficial insects) and has built a bug vacuum to control fruit fly and Rutherglen bug.
He measures soil moisture, electrical conductivity and temperature with cloud-based monitoring probes and advocates for registration of inputs to use in the organic industry.
“Being a part of the organic industry has enabled a paradigm shift, challenging our conventional growing methods and leading us to strive for more sustainable solutions to farming practices,” he said.
“We involve our team to help solve issues, drawing on their farming experiences and giving them a chance to be directly involved with a vested interest in the business.
“Consumers need to know that the industry is growing rapidly, and a range of organic products are becoming more accessible,” Brendon concluded.
AOL Chief Executive, Niki Ford, said the calibre of all five finalists in the Farmer of the Year category was first class.
“These Awards are much-deserved recognition for our talented and dedicated producers, but also a celebration of the contribution our $2 billion industry makes to the health and wellbeing of our fellow Australians,” Ms Ford said.
AOL also made a point to thank Corteva for its sponsorship of the Farmer of the Year category.
Category Finalists for AOL Awards 2022
Brand of the Year
• Angove Family Winemakers
• Glenore Grove Pty Ltd (trading as Cockatoo Grove)
• Kialla Pure Foods
• Organic Merchant
• The Organic Milk Co.
Business of the Year
• Dr Oetker Queen Australia
• Essential Flavours
• Gemtree Wines
• The Organic Milk Co.
Farmer of the Year
• Brendon Hoyle, Ashbern Farms
• Jason Smyth, SA Organics
• Mick Dan, Good Harvest Organic Farm
• Shane Eldridge, Eldridge Fresh Organics
• Sue Glynn, KimchiMe TASFresh
Innovation Award
• Marinova Pty Ltd
• Pawsome Organics
• River Stone Aquaculture Innovations
• Sprout Organic
New Product of the Year
• Kialla Pure Foods – Organic Waffle Mix (Extra Crispy)
• Swift Grow – Certified Organic Fertiliser
• The Organic Milk Co. – Organic Cheddar Block
Organic Woman of the Year
• Anni Brownjohn, OZGANICS Australia
• Georgia Beattie, Bulla Park
• Monica Meldrum, Whole Kids
• Theme Rains, Synthesis Organics
Retailer of the Year
• Apples and Sage
• Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (trading as Coles)
• Honest to Goodness
• Santos OrganicsYoung Organic Leader
• Andrew McIlwain, Green Camel
• Brendan Taylor, Good Harvest Organic Farm
• Chelsea Eldridge, Eldridge Fresh Organics
• India Bellamy, STORM + INDIA
