Australian grower Flavorite is already Australia's largest greenhouse grower, but it doesn't stop at 64 hectares. This summer, it was announced that another 12 hectares will be added. This was enough of a reason for ABC News to visit the grower to make a 15-minute video. There, the grower explains why growth in the greenhouse is so important to them. They plan on fully planting the newest greenhouse in July 2023.
This summer, the construction of a new 6-hectare greenhouse was completed with the planting of tomatoes.
Replacing outdoor cultivation
In a recent interview, grower Mike Nichol said that Australia still largely relies on outdoor cultivation. So, growers still see growth opportunities across the board.
"This is mainly because open field growers have planted less due to increased costs, but also because of the labor shortage. Many growers are therefore cautious and have reduced the amount of field crops. We have seen this in the winter, with fewer products available on the market. With our expansion, we want to meet that outstanding demand, compensate for the missing products and increase food security in Australia."
A challenge in the greenhouse is pollination. In Australia, greenhouse growers cannot count on bees and bumblebees. That is why they use techniques for automated pollination. Previously this was done manually.
The growers rely on Dutch greenhouse horticulture technology and varieties, among other things. The Tomberry from Eminent Seeds, for example, is featured in the video item. The growers want to expand to 100 hectares within five years.