Victorian mushroom producer Chris McLoghlin of The Organic Mushroom Farm has taken out this year’s prestigious AUSVEG Young Grower of the Year Award.
The award, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, was announced at the Gala Dinner at the 2018 Hort Connections Conference, Brisbane.
Mr McLoghlin is the founder and director of The Organic Mushroom Farm which provides mushrooms to independent grocers and major retailers nationally.
The Farm is the largest certified organic mushroom farming company in Australia.
Mushrooms grown include: white button, cups, and field mushrooms as well as brown crimni, swiss brown cups, and portabella mushrooms.
Mr McLoghlin has worked in fresh produce and grocery supply chains and distribution, has founded online retail and hospitality businesses, and consulted for and worked in several start-ups - both food and technology related.
Nick Koch, Marketing Manager for Horticulture & Insecticides for Corteva Agriscience said Mr McLoghlin’s commitment and dedication to farming was inspiring.
“Working with his team and local community he is supplying mushrooms to happy customers across Australia,” Mr Koch said.
“Chris is a passionate advocate of organic primary production, supply chain and industry development and is a great example of a young person leading the charge for innovation which will help our next generation of growers to prosper.”
“We are pleased that our industry recognises and celebrates the achievements of outstanding young growers such as Chris.”
“I would also like to congratulate the nine shortlisted nominees in this category: Andres Cruz - Butler Market Gardens – VIC; Chris Pham – Nexgen Produce – NT; Daniel Hammond - Bulmer Farms – VIC; Daniel Quattrochi - Monika’s Organics – SA; Jake Shadbolt - Scotties Point Farm – VIC; Mitch East - Willarra Gold – WA; Nathan Barolli - Barolli Orchards – VIC; Olivia Ryan - McCain’s – VIC; Steph Corrigan - Corrigans Produce Farms – VIC.”
“The wide range of fruit and vegetables that these young growers are producing is just phenomenal – from baby leaf; baby broccoli; potatoes; kale; apples and pears and mushrooms.”
AUSVEG, the industry representative body for the Australian vegetable and potato industries, manages the 2018 National Awards for Excellence, including the Young Grower of the Year Award.
