Harvest Moon Farms, TAS
Harvest Moon is one of Tasmania's leading fresh vegetable companies. Privately owned by Managing Director Neil Armstrong and Agricultural Director Mark Kable, Harvest Moon was founded in 1981 in the fertile Forth Valley in Tasmania.
Mark's passion for the land came from visiting his grandfather's farm in central NSW during the school holidays. From there he went on to study agriculture at university. Mark's father Geoff worked in Sydney's produce markets before investing in Harvest Moon ‐ a fledging potato trading business in Tasmania. When Mark completed his degree he headed to Tasmania to work for the summer. Over 23 years later, he's still there.
"While Tasmania is not as susceptible to drought as the mainland, we have been known to get too much rain resulting in extensive flooding. Rather than think about giving up, the challenging conditions actually make me more determined to find a way to overcome the conditions and produce viable crops." ‐ Mark Kable
While Harvest Moon produces over 60,000 tons of quality fresh vegetables every year (including broccoli, beans, onions, potatoes, lettuce, leeks and swedes), by far the most significant of these by volume is carrots.
Harvest Moon has been growing carrots in the fertile red volcanic soils on Tasmania's north‐west coast since 1991. When you consider the temperate climate, long growing season and beautifully clean water, it's no surprise they're sweet, juicy and keep well.
Tasmanian carrots take between 115 and 150 days to grow from seed to maturity, depending on the time of planting. For example, carrots planted in July are ready in 150 days, while carrots planted in September and October are ready in 115 days.
"I love working out how to overcome challenges Mother Nature throws at us to produce quality vegetables that exceed consumers' expectations for taste, quality and shelf life." ‐ Mark Kable
In addition to being a good source of fibre and rich in beta‐carotene, carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A, B3, C and E. They are at their most nourishing when eaten raw in salads, juices and sandwiches and are delicious steamed, boiled or roasted.
"As carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, deep orange carrots contain more beneficial health properties." ‐ Mark Kable
When selecting carrots, Mark maintains you should choose ones that are smooth and firm with a bright appearance. To maintain freshness at home carrots should be kept refrigerated and are best left inside a plastic bag. Provided they are kept cold, they can be stored for several weeks. However, never store carrots with apples, bananas, pears or other ripe fruit. As these fruits ripen they let off a gas called ethylene, which can causes carrots to develop a bitter aftertaste.
Mark is the first to admit he's made his fair share of mistakes along the way. In an effort to learn new techniques and practices, he often travels overseas to see new genetics, machinery and farming systems. His advice to the younger generation of farmers is straightforward. "If it's what you're really passionate about then go for it." And don't be put off by not owning a farm. "There are many ways to become involved in agriculture, from new genetics and production systems to managing produce in a more environmentally sustainable way."
When he's not farming, Mark likes to fish in Tasmania's beautiful waterways. "Just about everybody fishes either in the open water or in the fresh water lakes for trout." While he also enjoys camping and motorbikes, most of his spare time is spent playing and watching sport with his four children (all aged under 9)!
"You can't beat fresh produce that's well prepared. My kids have been eating carrots and beans they've picked themselves since they were old enough to chew." ‐ Mark Kable