Updates from FreshZest 2010 http://www.freshzest.com.au
The Northern Rivers Digital Strategy group recently interviewed Freshzest Director Christine Lucke for a case study on how we currently utilise technology at our farm sites.

As our business grows and we prepare for the introduction of the National Broadband Network, technology will become more and more important in the way we do things.

You can read the full case study here.]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/14 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0800 lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and coriander root at just $6 per kg. Perfect for large quantities of Thai curry paste or other Asian style cuisine.

We freeze all of these herbs in house using offcuts and excess of some of our best grade product.

If you are interested, contact Greg Dell or Drew Scott on 03 5674 5575. ]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/13 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0800 Our Pound Creek greenhouses played host to some very special visitors this morning when the team from Michael's IGA popped in to film their latest TV commercial amongst the herbs! Colleen, Produce Manager at the Korumburra store was the star of the show, with assistance on the sidelines from Fresh Food Manager Dom. Freshzest was one of only two producers selected for the commercial.

Michael's IGA stores in Leongatha and Korumburra are two of our most loyal and long standing customers so we were delighted to be asked to participate. They are so supportive of local growers that they even used to collect orders at the farmgate to save us delivering to their stores. Now that's commitment!

See pictures from the shoot in our gallery. The ad will air on Win and Prime in Gippsland in the coming weeks. Can't wait to see it.]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/12 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0800 On Friday January 25, Freshzest opened up the Caniaba glasshouse to the public for the very first time since beginning production in September 2008.! Over 70 local residents took the opportunity to visit the impressive 10,000sqm facility, learning all about how we grow, harvest and package our delicious culinary herbs.

The day started with a quick health and safety induction followed by a tour of the packing areas and glasshouse lead by managers Suzi Davison and Pete Murphy. Adult visitors were then invited to view the pump shed, through which roughly 80,000 litres of water is recirculated daily, whilst the younger crowd potted up their own herbs to take home. Activities concluded with a tasty morning tea. Photos can be seen in our photo gallery.

Feedback from all of the visitors was very positive and we thank them for their interest and thank the management and staff of Caniaba farm for organising a very successful morning.

Here are some of the facts Suzi and Pete shared about Freshzest and our glasshouse facility during the tour:

• We grow hydroponically in twice washed river sand from Tabulam. This medium provides excellent filtration and growing properties.
  
• We avoid using pesticides wherever possible. Instead we have a thriving beneficial bug program – good bugs eat the bad bugs. We aim to create breeding colonies for the good bugs inside the glasshouse.
  
• We grow almost all of our plants from seed in the seedling nursery. Some plants survive better from cuttings and are propagated on site. Other varieties, such as green basil, are created by Freshzest in house and we harvest seed from our own crop. We source seed from around Australia from seed supply companies.
  
• Some of the pests that affect our crops are caterpillars, thrip, white fly, mealy bug, mirids, leaf hoppers, and fungus gnats.
  
• We add nutrients and filter our water through ozone filters to feed the plants up to eight times daily.
  
• We control the environment through the Priva computer system. The computer controls the light, ventilation and humidity using shades, vents and a misting system. The glasshouse is constantly changing settings to adapt to the outside temperature and weather.
  
• We have 566 beds growing 14 varieties of herbs in the glasshouse. A further four crops are grown outside.
  
• The farm property is 18.5 hectares, the glasshouse is 1 hectare in size.
  
• We have another Freshzest farm in Victoria at Leongatha which has been supplying Woolworths with herbs for 24 years.

]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/10 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:59:07 +0800 The Freshzest board of directors is proud to announce the appointment of Greg Dell as General Manager of the company. Greg has been with Freshzest for 15 years and his new role sees him responsible for overseeing the entire operational side of the business as well as quality management.

We wish Greg all the best in his new role. ]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/9 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:00:39 +0800 Download the podcast to hear Freshzest Horticulturalist Brod Christiansen in a recent interview with Cath McAloon for the Gippsland Rural Report on the ABC.
Click Here]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/8 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:49:50 +0800
Finance Director Christing Lucke dispatched the amount of $2,298 on June 30. All donations by staff members to the fund were matched 2 for 1 by the company. CEO Michael O'Brien thanked the team for their generosity and noted the support from the Freshzest Caniaba farm in northern NSW for their Victorian neighbours and colleagues. ]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/7 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0800 Freshzest Finance Director Christine Lucke has made the first of two donations to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund in the wake of the devastating bushfires that ravaged the area earlier this year.

The amount of $4,236 represented donations by staff members matched 2 for 1 by the company. CEO Michael O'Brien said he was heartened by the generosity of the Freshzest family with team members from both the Victorian and northern NSW farms contributing to the cause.

Staff are able to donate directly from their weekly earnings before tax for the remainder of the financial year, with the final donation to the fund to be made in July. ]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/6 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0800 In the wake of the devastating bushfires that tore through the dry Victorian countryside recently Freshzest CEO Michael O’Brien has announced a generous incentive for staff to donate to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund. For every $1 donated by staff members to the appeal, Freshzest will contribute a further $2, effectively tripling employee contributions.

With several Freshzest employees directly affected by the Delburn blaze which destroyed homes in the communities of Boolarra and Mirboo North in late January, the cause is certainly close to the hearts of many of those working at the company’s Pound Creek farm in.

The Freshzest Head Office in Lismore NSW has made arrangements to allow donations to be made from weekly wages, before tax, for the remainder of the financial year. The team has shown great enthusiasm toward the scheme and looks forward to supporting those affected by the bushfires over the coming months as they begin to rebuild lost communities.

For further information contact Jen Westphal at pr@freshzest.com.au.]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/5 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0900 Freshzest Marketing Manager, Jen Westphal, is proud to announce the recent commitment by Freshzest to sponsor the 2009 National Hydroponics & Greenhouse Industry Conference, to be held in Sydney next July.

The conference is the largest of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region and is expected to attract 400–450 commercial growers and allied industry delegates.

The event will be a great opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to hydroponics and growing technology within the horticulture industry. As many would be aware, Freshzest founder Robert Hayes has undertaken extensive pioneering work in this field over the last 25 years and has every intention of continuing this record of innovation in the years to come.

Freshzest will be sponsoring a session at the conference and will keep you updated with the speaker details when they come to hand.

For further information, contact Jen Westphal at pr@freshzest.com.au. ]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/4 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0800 The team at Freshzest Pty Ltd celebrated a new milestone over the weekend with their first successful delivery of fresh herbs into the Woolworths Brisbane distribution centre in Larapinta, Queensland. While having supplied Woolworths in Victoria and Tasmania for close to 20 years, Queensland had been out of reach until the construction of a new, one-hectare glasshouse at the company's farm located at Caniaba in northern NSW.

The achievement was the culmination of months of hard work and planning by dedicated staff at both the Caniaba property and the original Freshzest premises in Leongatha South, Victoria.

The management and harvesting staff at the Caniaba glasshouse marked the occasion, enjoying well-deserved glass of champagne with Freshzest CEO Michael O’Brien. In thanking those involved with the project Mr O’Brien proudly reported on the “amazing level of commitment demonstrated by the new team at Caniaba, coupled with extraordinary support from their colleagues from Victoria, who always seem willing to lend a hand”.

The company looks forward to continuing an already strong relationship with Woolworths in the coming years.

For more information about Freshzest, visit or contact Jen Westphal on 0427 465 569.]]> http://www.freshzest.com.au/news/3 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 +0800