FOUNDER of Silvan Australia, Michael Tricarico, has penned a book recording his life in Australia and the growth of the Silvan brand.

Started in the 1960s, Silvan has become one of Australia's leading manufacturers of sprayers and spray equipment for horticulture and broadacre farming.

Michael has an extensive background in farming, especially with market garden produce, a result of his Italian heritage.

His father, Giuseppe, a young peasant farmer from southern Italy, came to Australia in 1926.

Giuseppe settled his family in Cunninghame, near Lakes Entrance, where Michael was born in 1931.

In 1946, Giuseppe moved the family to Silvan, in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, where he entered into a share farming joint venture growing strawberries and other crops.

When he was 15, Michael took produce to the Queen Victoria market in the family truck.

Still an unlicensed driver, he recalls in his book how he told a "white lie" about his age and convinced a Lilydale policeman he was experienced enough to get his licence.

The Tricaricos enjoyed five years of successful market gardening at Silvan and bought their first market garden freehold in 1948.

An enterprising Michael was soon acting as a grower agent, carting his family's produce and that of other local growers to the Queen Victoria market.

In the mid-1950s he accepted an offer from his godfather, Ralph Sabatino, to enter into a partnership in a wholesale fruit and vegetable business at the Queen Victoria market named R. Sabatino and Company.

Michael started distributing sprayers and pumps on behalf of Queensland manufacturer Marino Products in the early 1960s. As a result, Michael sourced more spraying and farming equipment from Italian and other European manufacturers.

He also started designing and building unique sprayers and other agricultural equipment.

Michael made his first overseas business trip in 1971 and established relationships with many Italian manufacturers that still continue today.

Silvan now employs more than 200 people.

Michael, now approaching his 80th year, remains chairman of directors of Silvan Australia.

His book, The Journey Not the Destination, has more than 300 illustrations and meticulously records the family's history. It is published by Killaghy Publishing.