BROTHERS Frank and Joe Ruffo always knew they would end up growing lettuce, but perhaps not in the quantities they do today.

The former wholesalers first grew the leafy vegetable at Bacchus Marsh as a hobby in 1989, as part of pursuing a healthier and more rewarding lifestyle.

Today the Ruffos' company, Tripod Farmers, grows baby-leaf salads on five farms at Bacchus Marsh and has expanded into Gippsland and northwest Victoria.

Tripod Farmers employs more than 250 people and its farms cover 300ha.

In recognition of the high production standards it has set, the company won the Primary Producer of the Year section of the NAB Agribusiness of the Year awards, announced in Melbourne last week.

A fourth-generation farmer, Frank said winning the NAB award acknowledged the farming tradition his great-grandparents brought to Australia.

He said the vegetable industry faced many risks, amplified by strict food-safety standards.

"We identify and control these continuous risks as part of our improvement plan," Frank said.

"Over the life of the business we have adopted and developed many practices which align our green business strategy and assist in the minimisation of our carbon footprint."

One thing that has not changed in the past 20 years is Tripod's family focus.

Frank is managing director; his wife, Angela, is the harvest co-ordinator; his brother, Joe, looks after sales; Joe's wife, Carmel, is business administrator; and Frank's son, Frank Jr, is a production assistant.

Tripod Farmers also runs guided tours for universities, schools and the general public.

The tours focus on the company's farming practices and business operations, with the aim of improving public understanding of farming.

Another winner at the NAB awards was P Costi and Sons, of Loxton, South Australia, who took out the Rural Enterprise Award.

The company runs a citrus packing and marketing business, which this year will process up to 20,000 tonnes of citrus for 65 growers.

It is recognised for its strong relationships with growers and customers and its commitment, reliability and quality standards.

"We are absolutely thrilled to win this award," Costi managing director Helen Aggeletos said.

"It is great to be recognised for our contribution to the region and also to increase awareness of what our growers have been going through.

"We have seen many permanent plantings die over the past few years and many families have had to walk off their farms.

"Last season we subsidised farmers to purchase water to save their plantations, and also persuaded some of our exporters to do the same.

"We also lobbied the State Government for funds for growers, to lessen the burden of temporary water purchases."

The NAB award for Innovation in New and Emerging Industries went to Boundary Bend Limited, in recognition for its work in the olive industry.

From an initial planting of 200ha in northwest Victoria, the company has grown into a fully integrated business, with seven sites in Victoria and more than 60 permanent staff.

Chief executive Rob McGavin said it was very satisfying to be recognised for hard work over many years.

"We have had to develop or adapt processes in just about every aspect of our business to remain competitive, especially as the majority of our overseas competitors are heavily subsidised," Rob said.

Boundary Bend produces almost 50 per cent of Australia's extra virgin olive oil, from 13 per cent of Australia's olive trees.

Rob said the company was developing world-first technology to increase the percentage of oil extracted during processing.

The NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence, now in its 14th year, are run in conjunction with Monash University.