VeeJays Kalfresh
The Jurgens Family are fifth generation farmers who have been growing tomatoes in the Bowen region since 1915. The Jurgens pride themselves on growing environmentally and socially sustainable safe food grown using a biodynamic farming system. The Jurgens received full Organic Certification in early 2018 and now offer customers a commercial supply of Certified Organic snacking tomatoes, pumpkin, baby capsicums and green beans.
Category
Product inventory and distribution
Industry
Tech Type
Interactive weather/soil probes, drones and imagery
Opportunity
Jess Jurgens, Deputy General Manager at Vee Jay’s Kalfresh and 5th generation farmer, has a passion for sustainable farming practices and building a circular economy. Jess has developed an Organics Production Manual to achieve certification for organic production. The manual served to help others in the agriculture community to better understand chemical inputs in non-organic production. She also helped to build their business’s own insectary for pest management in organic and other production areas.
Through Jess’s nominated role as ‘AgTech Activator’ in the Greater Whitsunday region, she is a mentor to other young farmers and accelerates the adoption of agtech solutions and encourages the younger generation to join the industry in the region. As the winner of Queensland’s Ag Emerging Leader award, Jess has used that opportunity to connect and network with other emerging innovators and has amplified her understanding of tech opportunities at Ag conferences both globally and locally.
Results
- A circular economy, using everything on farm.
- Reduced environmental footprint.
- Increased agtech adoption.
- Organic produce.
Founders
Melita Jurgens
Jamie Jurgens
