Petsios family close SA tomato farm after 65 years due to virus

·

The owners of SA Tomato, a 65-year-old tomato nursery in Adelaide, South Australia, are considering legal action after closing their business due to a tomato virus crisis.

Peter and Oriana Petsios, who have run the family business for decades, were devastated to shut down after a seedling tested positive for tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in mid-December 2024. The virus was first detected at their business in August.

“We’re all devastated – it’s a matter for the courts now,” Peter said, adding they had lost approximately $3 million and feared losing their home.

“It’s an unwinnable war. It’s very unfair. We’ve lost our reputation completely. They’ve destroyed a South Australian business.”

The Petsios family laid off their remaining staff after the December test, which came from a sacrificial crop sent to a Victorian customer. The batch was part of a nationally approved deal, but the Victorian glasshouse also tested positive for the virus and is now under quarantine.

Photo: Growing Produce.
The tomato virus. Photo: Growing Produce.

Petsios believes the test result was a “false positive,” citing more than 400 subsequent negative tests from the same batch. He plans to pursue legal action and is calling for changes to national legislation regarding ToBRFV, which he argues should be removed from the National Priority Plant Pests list.

He also criticised biosecurity measures, claiming that diagnostic protocols were inconsistent, test results were delayed, and communication with growers was poor.

“If I’ve failed, imagine how many other people are failing out there. They have raised the bar to a level that can’t be passed. It’s very unfair,” he said.

A state government spokesperson stated they would support SA Tomato in restarting its operations and continue to review ToBRFV eradication protocols.

Meanwhile, the opposition has expressed concern that the closure of SA Tomato is a major loss for the industry as it recovers from the virus crisis.

Source: The Advertiser.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

SA Full Court ends dispute over teacher Dimosthenis Kourlas’ registration denial

The Supreme Court of South Australia’s Full Court has ruled on a dispute involving teaching graduate Dimosthenis Dillon Kourlas.

Peter V’landys urges Donald Trump to attend NRL Las Vegas showcase

NRL chief Peter V’landys has publicly invited US President Donald Trump to attend rugby league’s season-opening event in Las Vegas.

South Melbourne FC announces Directed as Major Sponsor in landmark partnership

Directed is the major sponsor of South Melbourne FC, aligning two organisations driven by innovation and a sense of community.

Greece to construct evacuation port on Santorini amid ongoing seismic activity

Greece is set to establish an evacuation port on the island of Santorini to ensure safe departures in the event of a significant earthquake.

Melbourne mum Debbie Voulgaris sentenced for drug smuggling in Taiwan

Australian mother-of-five Debbie Voulgaris has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin into Taiwan.

You May Also Like

AUKUS: France slams Australia over move to ditch $90b submarine deal

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has responded furiously to the cancellation of what was Australia's largest ever defence contract.

A community milestone: Celebrating a decade of Macarthur Greeks

On Wednesday, July 10, the Macarthur Greeks organisation in Sydney's south-west gathered to celebrate a decade of community.

Keir Starmer claims victory in UK election landslide, Sunak concedes

Labour's Keir Starmer has led the party to a landslide win in the UK general election, with Rishi Sunak's Conservatives wiped out.