Manager, Cross Family Farms Pty Ltd - BUNDABERG QLD
CATEGORY: SUSTAINABILITY
Trevor and Wendy Cross, horticultural growers from Bundaberg QLD, are recognised as one of the most hard working and humble couple in the business. They have been nominated in the Sustainability category for their dedication to maintaining the environment in which they work.
The Cross’ have been growing small crops in the Bundaberg area for over 20 years. They employ over 300 staff, across the packing shed and in the field – make no mistake, this might be a family business, but it is by no means a small business!
They farm 600 ha of irrigated crops, by both trickle and overhead irrigation systems. Catchment dams hold all water that is used in the packing shed as not to contaminate local streams or waterways this water is then used back through irrigation systems.
Wendy managers the packing shed as well as helps with marketing and book keeping for the business, a huge task on its own. Trevor manages all the day-to-day aspects of growing each crop as well as variety selection, spray program and fertiliser programs.
Trevor is a strong advocate of variety trials and has been involved in trialling Syngenta’s Tomato and Capsicum genetics as well as new products, as they are introduced.
Trevor lives by his motto “if you have healthy soil, you will have a healthy plant”. Their farm practices revolve around soil conservation, water management, resistance management and IPM, where it fits. Trevor is a strong advocate for mulching green crops, manures and organic fertilisers to build up their soil composition.
In an act of charity, each year the Cross’ provide around $300,000 worth of produce to the Food Bank and the Hay run.