June 3, 2010Bundaberg vegetable grower Andrew Philip of
SP Exports has won the vegetable industry’s Innovative Marketing Award over the weekend following the success of the drip-free tomato on the Australian market.
The award, sponsored by the Brisbane Produce Market, was presented at the AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast in front of almost 400 industry leaders.
Philip has achieved success with a revolutionary new field-grown tomato variety, called
intense, which has now become popular with fast food outlets such as McDonalds, KFC and Hungry Jacks and is also stocked by Coles.
AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy congratulated Philip on his inspirational business pursuits.
“The Intense variety of tomato grown by Mr Philip is a great success story which other vegetable and potato growers in Australia can learn from," Mulcahy says.
"As a value-added product, it shows the benefits which can be enjoyed by innovative businesses in the horticulture industry if they are willing to push the boundaries and respond to consumer needs,” he says.
Originally commercialised by Nunhems, the drip-free tomato is the world’s first full flesh and non-leaking tomato.
“This award recognises the commercial success of the drip-free tomato in Australia, but not only that, it serves to highlight the importance of key vegetable growing areas such as Bundaberg to the national food economy,” Mulcahy adds.
