A STALWART of the Victorian vegetable industry has been recognised with two awards.
Luis Gazzola, 71, knew his Somerville family business, Gazzola Farms, was a finalist in the industry impact category of the AusVeg National Awards for Excellence, but had no inkling he also was in line to receive a lifetime achievement award.
Wife Gloria and sons Paul, Colin and Andrew had managed to keep it a secret until the official announcement at the recent national awards dinner.
"I had no idea," he said. "I was really honoured. I was in shock and in tears."
Mr Gazzola got his start in the industry as a child, working beside his Italian migrant father, Matteo, at Narre Warren before and after school, on weekends and during school holidays, until he left school at 15.
For 31 years he was in a vegetable-growing partnership, then spent three years as a wholesaler at the Melbourne Markets.
Unable to shake his passion for growing vegetables, Mr Gazzola bought two sugarcane properties near Bundaberg in Queensland, where Paul and Colin also grew zucchinis, capsicums, watermelons and pumpkins for nine years.
Along with youngest brother, Andrew, they now farm about 161ha at Somerville and 105ha at Boneo, producing five types of Asian vegetables, broccoli, carrots, celery, and cos and iceberg lettuce, and employing more than 40 full-time staff and 40 seasonal workers.
Mr Gazzola helped re-establish the southeastern grower network in 2002 and is in his sixth term as president of the Vegetable Growers' Association of Victoria.
Mr Gazzola said the industry had changed dramatically in the past 56 years, with increasing levels of paperwork, red tape and rising production costs.
"Life was easier and we had time to ourselves," he said. "Today it's hectic. You have to go 12 months of the year flat-out and never stop."
Mr Gazzola said most crops were still hand-picked and he was grateful to the migrants who worked on farms.
He said migrants helped develop the Australian horticulture industry over the past 200 years and were vital to its future.
West Australian Jim Trandos, who has pioneered new production areas in Broome, was named grower of the year with Ballarat potato grower Daniel Maher recognised as young grower of the year.
