FOR Bowen farmers Michelle O’Regan and Belinda Williams, growing fresh vegetables in the winter food bowl of Australia is not just their livelihood – it’s their passion.
The dynamic duo run Stackelroth Farm at Delta, just north of Bowen and are the largest suppliers of Halloween Pumpkins to the major supermarkets in Australia.
The pumpkins, which they have supplied to supermarkets for the last 17 years, form the bulk of their operation producing about 550 tonne a year.
However, the couple is branching out and experimenting with other small crops, growing a variety of winter vegetables which they sell in a stall outside their property and supply to local Bowen grocers.
“Most of the stuff grown in this region is for the domestic markets in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and we identified that often by the time it made its way back it was not the best quality,” Ms O’Regan said.
“We have a relationship with local suppliers so produce can stay local as well.”
