Green Valley Strawberries in Adelaide Hills’ Nairne has closed after 42 years, with co-founder Jim Rozaklis and his family citing health issues, rising costs and lifestyle changes behind the decision to end both the farm and café operations.
Christie Rozaklis, who ran the café with sisters Steph, 32, and Danielle, 36, said her father’s declining health was a key factor.
“It was hard for him to make the decision, he’s got health issues and his body just can’t do what he used to do,” Christie said.
“He decided that this was going to be his last season for growing (strawberries), and then it left us with a tough decision to make – what do we do with the cafe?”
She said the café, which opened in 2013, regularly served “easily over a thousand on any given weekend” and employed 18 staff.
“It started with coffee and cake, not knowing what we were doing, and … it just naturally evolved,” she said.
Christie said long hours and cost pressures also influenced the decision.
“We work seven days a week, we miss out on weekends,” she said. “With the cost of living, your net income at the end is nowhere near what it used to be.”
She said the business began in 1984 when Jim and Lynda Rozaklis started growing strawberries, inspired in part by Jim’s Greek heritage.
“His uncles were strawberry growers, he grew up surrounded by that so he just fell into it,” she said.
Lynda Rozaklis said retirement plans include caravanning around Australia and visiting family in Greece.
The family has received an outpouring of community support, which Christie described as “overwhelming.”
Source: The Advertiser.
