Family Saves Rare Zucchini Flower Farm From Disappearing
When a retiring Queensland farmer couldn't pass his rare zucchini flower business to his own children, he found the perfect family to keep the delicate crop alive. The Hunts are now learning the art of growing these culinary treasures, preserving a supply chain that nearly vanished.
The Hunt family spends every afternoon on a treasure hunt through green leaves, searching for golden zucchini flowers that bloom for just four hours before wilting forever.
Lauren and Brenton Hunt moved their family to a herb farm near Bundaberg in 2023, bringing their two adult daughters Mia and Lola and 10-year-old son Louie along for the adventure. The tight-knit unit powers the entire operation together, recently expanding from basil into something far more delicate.
That's when they met Geoff and Kym Millard, one of Queensland's last zucchini flower growers. After 15 years perfecting the temperamental crop, the Gympie couple was ready to retire, but their sons had pursued other careers.
The yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms are considered a delicacy in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, commonly served stuffed and fried. Female flowers turn into zucchinis if pollinated, but the narrow harvest window makes them challenging to grow commercially.
When no local farmers volunteered to take over, Geoff saw potential in the Hunts. Their high-quality basil in Brisbane markets and obvious passion convinced him they could handle the demanding work.
"Having someone who's actually done it for so long is invaluable," Brenton Hunt said about learning from Geoff's expertise. The knowledge transfer became critical because any gap in supply would mean restaurants removing the flowers from menus permanently.
The Ripple Effect
This unconventional succession story shows how agricultural knowledge can survive outside bloodlines when the right people step forward. Geoff spent months teaching the Hunts his techniques, ensuring a specialty crop wouldn't disappear from Australian kitchens.
The family has already harvested their first crops and attracted interstate interest. Mia describes the daily search as genuinely enjoyable despite being physically demanding, comparing it to finding hidden treasure among the plants.
The Bundaberg climate should support year-round production, potentially making the supply more stable than ever. For a crop that teeters on the edge of extinction with each retiring farmer, that continuity matters deeply.
"When you've worked that long it would have been a shame for it to disappear," Geoff said, watching his legacy bloom in new hands.
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Based on reporting by ABC Australia
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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