From one acre to three hundred, Tony Colotti shares how diversification and technology are shaping the farm’s future.
Words Anitra Stene, Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator, vegetablesWA
FOR most growers, the alarm clock is not what gets you out of bed. It is the job itself.
Ask Tony Colotti what he enjoys most about farming, and he does not talk about yields, machinery, or market prices.
"Watching the sun rise in the morning is the best minute of the day."
Something many growers would agree with.
As owner of Brookrise Fresh Produce in Gingin, Tony has built a business that now spans more than three hundred acres of irrigated vegetable production. But like a lot of successful farming operations, it started small, with plenty of lessons learned the hard way.
Coming from a family of vegetable growers, agriculture was never far away. After studying horticulture and share farming with relatives, Tony eventually started his own operation.
"Diversity helps spread risk, as different crops respond better to different seasonal conditions and market demands. While it does add complexity to crop planning, irrigation, nutrition and pest management, it ultimately makes the business more resilient and better placed to meet customer needs."
Like most growers, Tony does not romanticise the early years. When asked about the biggest challenge of getting started, his answer is straightforward.
"Making mistakes and learning from them."
"We started with one acre in Wanneroo," he says.
Today, Brookrise grows a wide range of vegetables, including leafy greens, lettuces, brassicas and specialty crops, rather than focusing on a single crop. The broad mix reflects how the business has evolved over the years and helps it supply customers year-round.
Brookrise spans more than three hundred acres of irrigated vegetable production.
It's a lesson that still applies today. Farming is changing quickly, and the ability to adapt has never been more important.
At Brookrise, technology plays a big role in day to day operations, helping the team work more efficiently and make better decisions in the field.
But Tony is quick to point out that technology only matters if it delivers results in the paddock.
"We try and use new technology to save money and become more efficient," he says.
Water remains at the centre of that effort. On a farm producing leafy greens year-round, reliable irrigation and nutrient delivery are essential, which is why Tony considers Brookrise's irrigation and fertigation systems some of the farm's most valuable assets.
Looking ahead, Tony sees both challenges and opportunities for Australian horticulture.
At the top of the list is water.
"You can't grow vegetables without it," he says.
Water is not the only challenge. Rising costs across the board, from fertiliser and fuel to crop protection products and labour, continue to put pressure on growers. Despite that, Tony remains positive about the future and believes technology will have an important role to play in helping farms stay efficient and competitive.
One area that particularly interests him is artificial intelligence.
"I think AI will become a normal part of farming, much like GPS has today."
Rather than replacing growers, Tony sees AI as another tool in the toolbox, helping identify problems earlier, improve efficiency and support better decision making across the farm.
For Brookrise, staying competitive means continually improving. Whether it is trialling new varieties, understanding consumer trends, upgrading irrigation systems, or learning more about soil health, the focus is on building a resilient farm for the future.
Despite the growth of the business, it's still the simple things that keep Tony motivated.
"As growers we get great satisfaction from putting a seed in the ground and nurturing it through to harvest," he says.
If there is one message Tony would like consumers to remember, it is a simple one.
"We provide food to feed you."
From one acre to more than three hundred, plenty has changed over the years. But for Tony, the focus remains much the same, growing good food, looking after the farm and finding ways to do things better each season.