Steve & Trish Gray

Steve & Trish Gray operate a 2800 vine farm on the stunning coast of Far North Queensland at Wonga Beach.  The farm is all laid out to overhead trellising and is immaculately maintained by the couple.

The 5 acre site produces fruit from July to November from the Misty Gem variety planted here.  Like other growers in the tropical north, Steve and Trish re-plant new vines in December every year and find the Misty Gem variety works well at their coastal location.

Steve still encounters all the usual suspects in terms of pest and disease, particularly fungal diseases which thrive in the humid conditions.  He applies a well structured, scientific regime based on regular leaf and fruit testing to ensure that he provides his plants with the right balance of nutrients, delivered via the use of slow-release prill fertilisers and fertigation.  Steve has invested in new technology to manage his irrigation system and can now control watering from the comfort of his armchair via his smartphone.

The fruit from Steve’s farm is renowned for its superb quality and super-sweet taste, and this is no accident.  The key is the regular testing carried out on the brix and trace element levels in the fruit during development and ripening.  Monitoring these closely and adjusting nutrient inputs accordingly is what creates fabulous fruit time and time again.