Melbourne’s Best Tomatoes
Father and Son team, John and Anthony Barille, run Garden State Fruit Supply- suppliers of Melbourne’s best tomatoes!
Transcript:
John:
“Garden State Fruit supply has been at the market for 26 years. We named it Garden State when we first took over the business. I was driving along one day, behind a car, and saw on the number plate “Victoria- the Garden State”- and I thought that was the perfect name. Garden State. And that’s when Garden State Fruit Supply was born.”
Anthony:
“Garden State’s known for our Doncaster tomatoes (Melbourne’s Best tomatoes) that are grown in Templestowe and our apples, grown in Wandaan, the Yarra Valley, and also our customer service.”
John:
“We pick our suppliers very carefully, once we establish the quality of the produce they’ve got- we stick to them.
That way, our customers get used to the same type of quality all the time.
We look for freshness. Different fruits we look for different things. Leafy vegetables need to be dark green. Fruits have got to be alive, not limp. Bananas have to have a certain colour- whether it be green or yellow, not that dull look.
You buy the same way as if you’re going to consume the produce yourself. We know what our customers want.
Working with my son at times can be a little bit trying, only because we have a difference of opinion. I’ve come to understand now that his opinion is a very very good opinion. We’ve got a very good relationship.”
Anthony:
My involvement in Garden State probably started at the age of 5 or 6. Over the years my involvement became dramatic.
But at 5 or 6 I started to serve customers. I remember serving my first customer, when I was 5 years old- and I served her tomatoes- Doncaster tomatoes (Melbourne’s Best Tomatoes)-what we specialise in.
And then when I was around 14, I started getting involved in the buying side of things.
Prahran market is a really unique market- what I really love about it is the people- you can’t get any better. The traders- the traders are very unique. The best part about it is you go to any store in the Market, I reckon any store, and ask a question and get an honest truth.
What it’s like working with my dad……..it’s always fun. It might be challenging at times, but at the end of the day it’s fun. It’s a family business and we love it.
