Damien Manno makes big switch to basil and other herbs north of Adelaide; rapid growth recognised nationally
Damien Manno at the Quality Harvest glasshouses, at Kudla, north of Adelaide, where he produced basil that were previous mainly only available from interstate.
Image by Brendan Simpkins, The Farmer
Damien Manno was honoured as 2022 horticulture young grower of the year at national and South Australia level for the growth of his Quality Harvest basil farm at Kudla, north of Adelaide.
In nine years, Manno set up one of the largest hydroponic basil farms in South Australia, growing from 1,000 to almost 30,000 bunches a week. It represented a major switch for Manno who grew up on a vineyard and studied to become a wine maker. His choice to go big on basil was motivated by his family's traditions and a gap in the market when he noticed a lot of herbs were coming in from interstate: "Coming from a southern Italian background, my nonna used it a lot, my mum used it a lot, so it was just a familiar plant."
The small blocks available – initially operating on 300 square metres – also initially influenced the decision to grow just basil and Asian greens, But, expanding to about 10 acres, Quality Harvest diversified into other familiar herbs such as coriander, mint and chives. Quality Harvest produced the Herbalicious brand supplied to green grocers.
At the Quality Harvest glasshouses, seedlings were brought in from New South Wales and planted in a climate- and irrigation-controlled setting for about six weeks. The produce – 100% free of herbicides, pesticides and insecticides – was cut and packed on the same day for delivery.
Quality Harvest also grew native herbs with Native Co Australia, set up Manno and former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne footballer Daniel Motlop. They grew about 20 different types of native herbs and fruits sourced from across the country. This included warrigal greens, sea parsley, saltbush and native mint and thyme. Motlop said there were slightly different variations for their products, which are grown in a greenhouse setting: “We can impart different characteristics that are not found in the wild,”
Quality Harvest was one of the first in Australia to be certified to the highest level for food security on any native herb or green. Products from The Native Co. were supplied to some of South Australia’s best restaurants but also available at the Adelaide Central Market stall Something Wild and Tony and Mark’s direct wholesalers.
