vegetables

32
Continuing
the Cobbledick
family legacy
THE COBBLEDICK FAMILY HAS BEEN
FARMING THE SAME PARCEL OF LAND
IN URAIDLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR
NO LESS THAN 166 YEARS. NOW,
SIXTH GENERATION GROWER RICHARD
COBBLEDICK IS CARRYING ON THE
LEGACY OF HIS ANCESTORS WHILE
KEEPING A MODERN MINDSET TO
INNOVATE THE FARM INTO THE FUTURE.
DIMI KYRIAKOU REPORTS.
Left to right: Courtney,
Richard and Ken Cobbledick.
Nestled within the rolling
Adelaide Hills is a vegetable
growing operation that boasts a
family history as rich as the soils
that nurture its crops.
Since 1850, this pocket
of land in Uraidla, South
Australia, has been farmed
by the Cobbledick family – a
name that is synonymous with
vegetable growing in the state.
The management of the farm
is now in the capable hands of
sixth generation family member,
Richard Cobbledick.
After growing up on the farm
and attending an agriculture
high school in Adelaide (even
growing celeriac as a side
business for pocket money),
there was no question about
the course of Richard’s future.
He started working full-time on
the farm in 2000 and has since
been involved in all aspects of
farming, marketing and running
of the family business, which
grows a range of cabbage and
lettuce varieties, cauliflower,
kohlarabi, celeriac, leeks and
beetroot for domestic and export
markets.
“This is not a job; it’s a
lifestyle. There are so many
different aspects of this industry
that you’re never doing the
same thing,” Richard says.
A new chapter
Last year, Richard and his wife
Tara started a new business,
Cobbledick Produce, which
represents the sixth generation
of family growers. As Managing
Director, Richard is responsible
for overseeing the farm in
Uraidla, another at Woods
Point near Murray Bridge and
a market floor operation at
the Adelaide Produce Market.
Richard works closely with his
sister, Courtney, and his father,
Ken, who provides assistance
from afar.
“Since we started Cobbledick
Produce, I have probably gone
more into the business side of
things, which is only natural. I
still like to get into the field, but
it’s not as much as I used to,”
Richard says.
Given this significant change
in responsibility, Richard
successfully applied for the
2016 Growing Leaders National
Vegetable Industry Leadership
Program, which is facilitated by
Rural Training Initiatives and
focuses on developing personal,
business and industry skills in
emerging leaders.
“I applied for the Growing
Leaders program because
I wanted to improve my