Walnuts Australia has received the accolade of Agribusiness of the Year at the Australian National Export Awards (ANEA) held in Melbourne on 26 November.
The ANEA is a national programme designed to recognise and honour Australian companies involved in overseas business ventures that, through innovation and commitment, have achieved sustainable success and growth.
Businesses are nominated are judged according to the strength of their international growth, marketing and financial strategies.
The Agribusiness Award is evaluated on outstanding international success in agricultural products, services or technology, and the forestry, fisheries and fibres industries.
Walnuts Australia’s nomination came after first winning the Agribusiness Award at a state level, at the Tasmanian Export Awards held in October.
This success follows on from the company’s national win last year in the Emerging Exporter category.
Walnuts Australia is a division of Tasmanian ASX-listed company Webster, which also operates Australia’s largest onion grower Field Fresh Tasmania.
Webster’s chief executive John Hosken expressed delight over the result. “This industry recognition and award is a result of a team effort and collaboration amongst our staff, customers and suppliers,” he said in a company media release.
Walnuts Australia owns and manages over 2,200 hectares of walnut orchards primarily on Tasmania’s East Coast, and New South Wales’ Riverina. It also has 1,000ha currently under development.
Ahead of the new season, the company is set to commission a new walnut-cracking and value-adding facility in February 2014, part of its investments in walnut processing.
The project’s key focus is its growing export markets in Asia and Europe.
