The Virgara family migrated from the Calabria region in Italy in the early 1960’s coming to South Australia looking for opportunity. The family settled in Piccadilly located 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD.
As time went by brothers Sam, Ross and Dominic grew their expertise and knowledge in horticulture and ended up buying their first property at Piccadilly. Today, the Virgara brothers have expanded their reach in South Australia, owing properties in Uraidla, Balhannah, Woodside and Lenswood resulting in over 300 hectares of fresh produce being grown.
The Virgara brothers grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, wine grapes and saltbush in a pesticide free environment. All the produce is hand-picked by the local staff, who are employed all year-round due to the variety of the produce grown by the Virgara’s. The strawberries and raspberries are sold at their roadside stall, farmer’s markets, and independent grocers. The local business is expanding to sell blackberries, jam and limited-edition strawberry ice-cream and raspberry gin which has been created in collaboration with other local businesses, as well as a pick-your-own experience.
The berries are grown in a protected / covered system that makes use of a hydroponic irrigation and fertigation system. This ensures that the plants are protected from weather stress and continuously fed the right volume of water and micronutrients on a daily basis, to help enhance the growth of the plant and the fruit.
Being inland, the Virgara’s do not have access to surface water, and instead source 100% of their water from the ground. The majority of their entitlement is sourced primarily from within the Western Mount Lofty Ranges, however they do also own water in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges to assist them with their irrigation requirements.
The regulations of the Western and Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges it can be difficult to understand if looking to buy or sell your entitlement. Waterfind are assisting the Virgara’s with purchasing, selling and valuing their entitlement in these regions.
If you would like to find out more about Sam, Domenic and the Adelaide Hills Berry Farm, contact them on their Facebook or Instagram Pages at Adelaide Hills Berry Farm, or visit them at 60 Swamp Road, Uraidla, South Australia.
If you would like you and your business to feature in Waterfind’s next segment, please contact your local Water Account Manager to discuss it further.
