Seedlings of Choice

Specialising in hydroponically grown vegetable seedlings, Choice Seedlings is a family-owned nursery supplying a range of clients from small home hobby farms to contracted supermarket enterprises. The company has also developed an innovative cell tray that has revolutionised the hydroponic market. By CHRISTINE PAUL

Quietly nestled on the outskirts of South West Sydney, NSW, Choice Seedlings is a specialist nursery focusing on the delivery of consistent quality vegetable seedlings 52 weeks of the year.

From humble beginnings in 2005, today husband and wife team Jeffrey and Germaine Borg are justifiably proud of their family-owned nursery spanning 40 acres over three locations. All sites have been carefully selected to play a vital role in the development of A-grade seedlings for growers. “Before our current venture, Jeffrey had been involved in his family business growing a variety of vegetables including lettuce, broccoli and cabbage, however, the produce was typically soil-grown,” says Germaine. “The opportunity arose to open our own nursery and we purchased 20 acres to expand our business.”

“We supply a broad spectrum of customers from small home hobby farms to metropolitan supermarkets”

Producing over 1 million seedlings weekly, the company germinates its seeds in an almost perfect NSW climate. The advantageous geographic location of the nursery facilitates personalised delivery of high quality seedlings across the eastern seaboard of Australia. “We supply a broad spectrum of customers from small home hobby farms to contracted Sydney metropolitan supermarket enterprises. We also deliver weekly to New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria,” Jeffrey says. “No two seedling orders are the same and we value each and every customer.”

Choice Cell 112 Tray

Choice Seedlings in association with Garden City Plastics Pty Ltd has officially launched the sale of the new Choice Cell 112. After extensive research of the commercial availability of a large cell tray to farmers and nurseries Jeffrey Borg from Choice Seedlings decided to develop the Choice Cell 112 Tray.

Over the last three years Jeffrey has discovered a need for a commercially available large cell tray that will move with the fast growing Hydroponics Market. The Hydroponics market is growing to suit the high expectation of consumers who demand a cleaner and greener product. This tray will revolutionise the way Hydroponics were previously grown.

The Choice Cell 112 has numerous advantages for the farmer who is looking at reducing labor costs as the nursery system is by-passed altogether by planting the Choice Cell 112 seedlings straight into the Hydroponics tables. The direct plantation of the advanced seedling means the plants suffer minimal transplant shock and less root damage; as a result developing a superior and faster growing end product. More than ever Supermarket chains have been placing more emphasis on a cleaner product. With drought concerns in mind and ever increasing water restrictions the efficiency of a recirculation Hydroponic farm is the way of the future.

Firstly, due to the nature of the hydroponic set up the farmer is more productive on a smaller scale of land. Secondly due the absence of soil the plant is a cleaner marketable product to the end consumer. Predominantly lettuce was the main vegetable grown using Hydroponics. More recently farmers have discovered the versatility of growing a wide variety of vegetables using the Hydroponic System including cucumber, tomatoes, Asian vegetables, herbs and capsicums.

With the competitive nature of the Hydroponic market, efficiency must be a priority. The Choice Cell 112 offers reduced labor costs, faster growing periods and a healthier beginning to a plant that will stand out in the marketplace. The Choice Cell 112 is an essential tool to any farmer.