Groves Grown Tropical Fruits, based in Australia, received recognition at the Honey Gold Mango Congress held in Melbourne on May 19–20 for their performance during the 2024–2025 season. The award acknowledges the business's efforts in crop forecasting, maintaining fruit quality, communication, and overall consistency.
© Piñata Farms
The Groves family—long-time growers of mangoes, avocados, lychees, and carambola—have been cultivating Honey Gold mangoes since 2001. Their current operation includes approximately 7,000 mango trees across 18 hectares. During the most recent season, they produced around 35,000 trays of Honey Gold mangoes, with a high proportion graded as premium quality.
Ian Groves said the award was unexpected and noted the broader efforts of the entire Honey Gold grower network, which includes around 25 growers across the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. He emphasized the importance of accurate forecasting in supporting the sales and marketing strategy led by Piñata Farms, which coordinates marketing for the Honey Gold brand.
© Piñata Farms
Favourable weather conditions during the season supported both crop quality and forecasting accuracy. The Groves' harvest typically runs for about three weeks, from late December through mid-January, and remained on schedule during the 2024–2025 season.
Groves Grown Tropical Fruits has also collaborated with Central Queensland University for the past decade to support agricultural research, including trials of an autonomous mango harvester. Each season, around 20 trees are left unharvested at the property for testing by Professor Kerry Walsh and his team. Additional trials focus on monitoring crop flush, flowering, and maturity to refine harvest timing.
© Piñata Farms
The business also incorporates a combination of drip irrigation, mulching with on-farm hay, and fully grassed interrows. These practices contribute to water conservation, with water use reduced to about one-third of typical levels, according to Groves.
The operation is staffed year-round by four permanent employees, with up to 40 seasonal workers employed during peak harvest. This is the second time Groves Grown Tropical Fruits has received the Honey Gold grower award, having also earned the recognition in 2019.
© Piñata FarmsFor more information:
Piñata Farms
Tel: +61 7 5497 4295
Email: [email protected]
www.pinata.com.au
