Our Story
Our story starts when Dad and Mum (Be Nguyen and Nghi Tran) first arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam. Looking for work was the first priority, so they moved to Geraldton with their two-year-old son Bao Duy and joined a small community of other Vietnamese refugees that were already working as labourers on the tomato farms in the area. Over time they gained the skills and knowledge to start their own small farm. With just enough money saved to buy a small plot of land near the airport in Geraldton, production started. By this time the family had welcomed another son, Bao La and a daughter Cam, both born in Geraldton. Mum and Dad worked night and day whilst building a happy life for their three children. The family always valued education, with all three kids going to university in Perth. Bao Duy became a geotechnical engineer, Bao La an accountant and Cam a medical scientist.
In 2011, Bao La returned to the family farm to help his parents and loved the challenge of working with the plants, so decided to stay. Bao Duy joined him two years later and together the brothers set plans to expand the business.
Purchasing 60 acres of land near Walkaway 30 minutes from Geraldton. The family now grows under 4.2 ha of plastic greenhouses in Walkaway and 2 ha of plastic greenhouses at the parent’s old farm. They have also started diversifying different crops because as they believe crop rotation is the best way to preserve soil health.
The value of education is still important as the brothers focus on learning as much as they can about the horticulture industry and want to develop their business to be as sustainable as possible. They are always looking for new innovations, focusing on new developments in water and nutrient monitoring, as well as climate control and integrated pest management. Bao Duy has gained some valuable knowledge whilst away on the Nuffield farming scholarship and the brothers are implementing these practices on the farm.
You will still see Mum working every day picking vegetables with a big smile on her face and Dad overseeing the operation with his invaluable growing experience. The youngest sibling Cam has also moved back to Geraldton with her husband and lives close by. She is always on hand after work at the hospital to help the family grade tomatoes or package cucumbers. The family are all very close and never miss a chance to be at home with a bowl of Mum’s incredible home cooked Pho.