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Meet Simon
Berry farming runs deep in Simon’s family—his dad planted the first raspberries back in 1985, and the crop has been part of their story ever since. Simon tried a different path, studying sports science at university, but soon discovered he preferred diagnosing “symptoms” in plants over people. Today he leads Hillwood Berries, applying data, technology and a big-picture mindset to keep the business adaptive and sustainable.
Hillwood’s mild northern-Tasmanian climate, paired with polytunnels and hydroponic systems, helps the team dial in quality and consistency all year. A companion farm in Bundaberg lets them grow counter-seasonally, so fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries reach shelves without pause.
Community connection is woven through everything they do—from the Pick-Your-Own patch and Farmgate Café that invite locals to taste berries at their freshest, to collaborations with neighbouring producers that boost the regional economy. Sustainability is more than a buzzword: efficient water use, protected cropping and a waste-to-under-5-percent goal keep resources working harder and smarter.
For Simon, the best reward is simple: watching kids in the café light up over a berry dessert made with fruit they picked themselves. It’s a daily reminder that thoughtful farming delivers moments of pure joy—and fuels his goal of bringing more young innovators into agriculture’s next chapter.
