Industry excellence recognised with ten winners announced in Brisbane
The best and brightest in Australian horticulture were given due recognition as the 2025 Horticulture Awards for Excellence were handed out at the Hort Connections 2025 Gala Dinner in Brisbane on 6 June.
Ten winners were presented representing the best in production, research, education, marketing and community involvement. As well the awards recognised the growing role of women in all sectors of the industry and gave special recognition to the next generation.
“I congratulate all the winners of this year’s Horticulture Awards for Excellence for the contribution they have, and continue to provide, to Australia’s horticulture industry,” said Ausveg CEO Michael Coote.
“I would like to recognise all the nominees in all the awards. While there can only be one winner in each category, all the nominees have made a massive industry contribution, and I want to assure them that this has not been forgotten or ignored.”
As the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticulture industry Conference, Hort Connections is tly hosted by Ausveg and the International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA ANZ). This year 3,900 delegates attended from around Australia, New Zealand, and the globe.
It was announced at the Gala Dinner that Hort Connections 2026 will be held in Adelaide.
Horticulture Awards for Excellence 2025 winners were:
Syngenta Grower of the Year
Jeremy Haw, Hussey & Co, Victoria
Celebrating 50 years, Hussey & Co – led by Jeremy Haw – is a leading Australian grower, processor, and distributor of baby salad leaves. With a vertically integrated national presence, the company supplies major retailers and exports to seven countries. Innovative processing enhances food safety and quality, while precision agriculture reduces waste. A solar farm offsets all peak daytime energy use, underscoring their commitment to sustainability. Haw’s focus on excellence, employee growth, and industry impact has established Hussey & Co as a leader in its field.
Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year
Craig Dingle, Kalfresh Vegetables, Queensland
Craig Dingle ed Kalfresh as a graduate in 2017 and swiftly advanced to head of agriculture, now overseeing more than 2,000 acres across three farming regions. In this role, he implements world-class agricultural practices, leading improvement projects with data-driven precision, deep agronomic expertise, and strong grower relationships. Dingle’s attention to detail and collaborative approach have established him as a respected leader in the industry. His innovative contributions include introducing in-field robots under the Queensland Smart Farms Initiative and deploying cushioned bin-loading trailers and in-field graders, which reduced onion handling and touchpoints by up to 80 per cent.
Hort Innovation Exporter of the Year Award
Mark Kable, Harvest Moon, Tasmania
Harvest Moon, a leading Australian fresh produce company, has been exporting vegetables for over 35 years to markets including Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, the Middle East, and Europe. In the past 12 months, the company has shipped over 6,500 tonnes of produce – a nearly 50 per cent increase – expanding beyond its established carrot and onion exports to include significant volumes of broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin, and watermelon. Leveraging a national network of more than 80 growers across Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, Harvest Moon maximises offshore shipments, helping to reduce domestic oversupply and protect grower returns by providing alternative markets for their produce. The Harvest Moon brand is recognised internationally for its quality and service, with its products featured in major supermarkets across Asia. The company actively participates in global trade shows and industry initiatives, reinforcing its reputation and contributing to the advancement of Australian horticulture in export markets.
Seeka Marketer of the Year Award
Sonia Gabauer, Driscoll’s Australia, Victoria
Driscoll’s Australia launched an omnichannel summer campaign, the “Sweetest Batch Strawberries Campaign” to showcase the flavour and experience of its Sweetest Batch Strawberries. Led by Sonia Gabauer, the campaign combined sampling, lifestyle activations, national media coverage, and retail media partnerships, headlined by high-profile lifestyle moments like the Bondi Beach pop-up and the Moonlight Cinema Romance Week sponsorship where 3,500 samples were handed out during each activation. Results were significant with A$17.3mn in campaign sales, and a 22 percent increase in online sales.
VISY Industry Impact
Claire McClelland, Australian Fresh Produce Alliance
For over a decade, Claire McClelland has been one of the most dedicated and effective advocates for the Australian horticulture sector, achieving outcomes in the areas of workforce, trade, biosecurity, sustainability and more. Her practical approach to challenges and unwavering commitment to protecting the industry’s viability has made a lasting impact on fresh produce businesses nationwide. McClelland’s ongoing effort continues to shape a stronger, more resilient horticulture sector—delivering results today while laying the foundation for future growth.
Butler Market Gardens Environmental & Sustainability
Angela Candelaro, Tripod Farmers Group, Victoria
Tripod Farmers Group leads in sustainable horticulture, as one of the first in Australia to adopt the Carbon Robotics Laser Weeder to reduce herbicide use and improve soil health. It worked closely with the US team to adapt it to Australian conditions. Its Chep partnership saved 1,877 tonnes of CO2-e, 10,807kL of water, and diverted 514 tonnes of waste. Tripod Farmers Group moved to recyclable cartons, uses on-site water recycling, and invested in efficient European packhouse equipment – setting a benchmark for practical, scalable sustainability in fresh produce.
NAB Women in Horticulture
Melita Jurgens, Vee Jay’s Kalfresh, Queensland
Melita Jurgens leads by example by empowering young women to advance their careers in horticulture and s them to take on leadership positions. Jurgens is a co-director of Vee Jay’s Kalfresh, a t venture in Bowen, North Queensland, producing Certified Organic and conventional fresh produce. Jurgens champions sustainable and regenerative farming practices across 1000ha of cropping and was integral to VJK becoming Australia’s largest producer of field-grown baby capsicums, and a leading national supplier of commercial-scale organics.
UPL Tech & Innovation
Troy Qualischefski, Qualipac, Queensland
Qualipac is an Australian-owned enterprise growing and packing vegetables. Qualipac is always on the lookout for continuous improvement options, including the introduction of new ag-tech, and has become a leader in athe doption of ag-tech through partnering with the Department of Primary Industries Queensland Smart Farms initiative to test new technology. Working with DPI, Qualipac has tested an autonomous robotic weeder and seeder. Benefits include labour savings; yield increases and reduced herbicide use.
Muirs Community Stewardship Award
Sam Licciardello, Orchard 1 Sixty, Western Australia
Sam Licciardello is a ionate grower and champion of community engagement, not only on his own orchard, but also celebrating the WA growing region. Host and organiser of the Donnybrook Long Table Lunch and the Easter Apple Festival, Licciardello showcases local apples and pears through immersive, paddock-to-plate experiences that attract thousands of visitors each year. A long-time community leader, Licciardello continues to promote Western Australia’s apple and pear industry with energy, authenticity and deep industry pride, sharing his commitment and growing expertise.
Bayer Researcher of the Year
Penny Measham, QLD Department of Primary Industries, Queensland
Penny Measham is an internationally recognised scientist and has a long and solid history of ing the Australian horticulture sector through science. Her own research efforts have had real world impact in plant and insect physiology, with outcomes for plant productivity, plant protection and pest management, and pre-and post-harvest fruit quality. Her contribution to horticulture extends to advancing trade and exports with a strong legacy in building capacity for market access research through the eight-year Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance.
