Growers

Joe Vizzarri planted his first crop of Broccollini® baby broccoli for Perfection Fresh in 1999 - today he is Australia's largest producer of the gourmet leafy green vegetable.

As fast I can grow Broccolini®, people are eating it.    

Joe Vizzarri planted his first crop of Broccollini® baby broccoli for Perfection Fresh in 1999 - today he is Australia's largest producer of the gourmet leafy green vegetable.

When Joe diversified into Broccolini® baby broccoli, he was banking on a natural advantage.

"Our properties in Victoria's Kooweerup region were swampland until the 1930s and possibly have the richest ground in the world," Joe says.

"Broccolini® can be a delicate and sometimes temperamental crop but it has thrived in our rich black soil. Our location has given our Broccolini® a real edge. With Broccolini®, it's all about producing a good number of bunches per plant. Four bunches per plant is a good yield and our crops average that thanks to our soil."

Joe, an experienced asparagus grower and primary producer since 1980, has an average of 60 hectares of Broccolini® growing on more than 20 farms. He produces the crop all year `'round.

What started as a sideline quickly demanded more attention as consumers discovered Australia's newest brassica.

In the early years he sent 15,000-20,000 boxes to market annually. Now he supplies up to 360,000 boxes a year.

"As fast I can grow Broccolini®, people are eating it,"Joe says.

He still gets a thrill when he sees Broccolini® from his farm on supermarket shelves.

"I was on holidays in Broome, Western Australia and saw our boxes in-store … I couldn't resist taking photos."

Serving Suggestion

Steam Broccolini® and asparagus together, season, pour over a little lemon juice and olive oil and add some toasted flaked almonds.