5 December 2011
South Australian vegetable grower Zerella Fresh has been recognised as a high achieving primary producer by winning a significant South Australian community award.
The Virginia-based company was acknowledged at the 2011 South Australian Community Achievement Awards with the T&R Pastoral Primary Industries and Agriculture Award which “applauds our unsung heroes and high achievers working on land”.
Zerella Fresh Managing Director Mark Pye said the company was proud to win the award.
“I’m very pleased that our hard work and commitment has been recognised with such a major community achievement award,” he said.
“The honour caps off what has been a particularly successful year in the growth of Zerella Fresh, which has seen us open a $4 million upgrade of our operations incorporating Australian-first optical grading and sizing line technology.”
Between Zerella Fresh and partner organisation Parilla Premium Potatoes – which form the Pye Group – the companies currently grow, pack and distribute more than 100,000 tonnes of potatoes annually, as well as 40,000 tonnes of onions and 30,000 tonnes of carrots. It makes the operation one of the top three potato and carrot producers in Australia and number one for onion production.
From their 18,000ha of total cropping land, the companies boast an annual turnover of more than $100 million.
The companies employ 300 staff with a diverse workforce including employees from a range of cultural backgrounds. Last year, Zerella Fresh began a partnership with Community Bridging Services, a local job network provider, to provide paid work experience opportunities in the packaging industry to South Australians with mental and physical disabilities.
Among Zerella Fresh’s recent successes is the introduction of a new “maranca” variety of potato, which is exclusive to the company and which will account for 55% of its total potato production in the coming season to satisfy increased market demand.
In October, Zerella Fresh launched a $4 million upgrade of its Virginia operations. The upgrade incorporated additional hydro-cooling and vegetable polishing capability, plus optical grading and sizing technology imported from Europe, the first time this technology has been used on potatoes in Australia.
ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Please contact Natalie Ciccocioppo on 08 8412 4100 or natalie@hughespr.com.au
