FROM ORCHARD TO MARKET: A LOOK INSIDE FONTANINI FRUIT & NUT FARM

Tucked away in the undulating hills of Seven Day Road in Manjimup, Fontanini Fruit & Nut Farm is a vibrant and productive orchard where a variety of fruit and nuts are grown with care and expertise. With 320 acres spanning three properties, the farm produces apples, avocados, macadamias, chestnuts, walnuts, pears, persimmons, and feijoas. Kirsty Fontanini, (a fourth generation farmer) alongside her husband David Hargreaves, ensures that the farm’s produce is carefully packed and sent to markets locally, nationally, and even internationally.

Kirsty returned full-time to the farm in 2012, initially stepping in to support the bookkeeping before returning in 2016 to take on a more hands-on role (as her dad, local farming hero ‘Tony Fonty’ started his long transition to retirement). Now, she manages the intricate logistics of the packing shed, coordinating incoming produce from growers, overseeing the packing process, and ensuring timely delivery to wholesale markets around the country. While a third of the produce processed in the shed comes from their own farm, the rest is brought in from other growers in the region, highlighting the collaborative spirit of Southern Forests’ agricultural community.

Feijoas take centre stage at Fontanini Fruit & Nut Farm during autumn. Known for their fragrant aroma and tangy-sweet flavour, these small green fruits are a seasonal delight. The farm’s first feijoa trees were planted way back in 1970. From early April to mid-May, the trees are laden with fruit, often dropping them as soon as they ripen, which means daily harvests are essential to maintain quality and freshness. With a short shelf life, feijoas must be picked and packed quickly, making the harvest season an intense but rewarding time.

Fontanini Fruit & Fruit Farm play a critical role in supporting the region’s feijoa industry, with plantings in the Southern Forests exponentially growing in 2016 and the region fast becoming one the country’s leading feijoa growing regions. Fontanini’s Fruit & Nut Farm grade, pack, and market the vast majority of the feijoas grown in the Southern Forests, with the fruit being sent to WA markets, as well as around the country and into South East Asia – wherever there is demand for this lesser-known but tantalising fruit.  

Growing such a wide range of produce requires a deep understanding of each crop’s needs. Apples, one of the farm’s key lines, demand significant labour, from pruning and thinning to netting and picking. Unlike avocados, which offer more flexibility in harvest timing, apples must be picked at peak ripeness to ensure their signature crisp texture and vibrant colour. Kirsty describes the excitement of apple season as a refreshing shift after months of handling avocados, with the bright hues of apples transforming the landscape like a treasure trove of glittering jewels.

Beyond the orchard, the packing shed is undergoing a major transformation. The business is set to upgrade its current grading system to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), allowing for more precise sorting and quality control. While the current system already weighs, photographs, and scans fruit using infrared technology, the added AI component will do a better job of ensuring that each piece is accurately graded. This advancement not only streamlines operations but also opens up the possibility for Kirsty to share her workload, as the new technology will be more intuitive for others to operate.

The Southern Forests region is known for its rich soil and temperate climate, both of which contribute to the exceptional quality of the produce grown here. Kirsty takes great pride in being part of this vibrant agricultural landscape, where the changing seasons are visible in the orchards and reflected in the harvests. Autumn, in particular, is her favourite time of year, with its striking sunrises and the golden hues of the trees adding to the beauty of the region.

Connecting with consumers is a key part of what makes the farm’s work so fulfilling. Each year, from April through May, Fontanini Fruit & Nut Farm invites visitors to experience their ‘pick your own’ option. It’s an opportunity for families to walk through the orchards, handpick their own selection of fresh fruit and nuts, and gain a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into every harvest. Over the years, the nature of visitors has evolved, with more young families and tourists taking part, while the older generations—once dedicated to stocking up on chestnuts and walnuts—seem to be slowing their visits. Kirsty wonders whether the tradition of nut harvesting will make a resurgence among younger generations, much like other cultural practices such as sausage making and preserving tomatoes.

Fontanini Fruit & Nut Farm’s produce can be found in greengrocers across Perth and the South West of WA as well as in NSW, Victoria, SA, and Queensland, sold under their consumer brands West Aussie Avo’s, West Aussie Feijoas, and A & N Fontanini. Whether it’s crisp apples, creamy avocados, or freshly harvested feijoas, each piece of fruit represents the care and expertise that goes into growing it. For those seeking an authentic farm experience, a visit to the orchard in autumn offers a chance to pick and enjoy some of the freshest produce in the region, straight from the source.

Fontanini Fruit & Nut Farm

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745 Seven Day Road, Jardee WA, Australia

Photography by Genuinely Southern Forests and Craig Kinder Photography.