Grower Profile

​Vizzarri Family

The Vizzarri Family has lived in the Koo Wee Rup area since 1971. They currently farm about 980 hectares in the Koo Wee Rup and Catani/Vervale area of the Koo Wee Rup swamp.

We produce over 3000 tonnes of asparagus annually from around 600 hectares planted in asparagus. We also grow over 2000 tonnes of broccolini each year.

Mario and Gina were originally dairy farmers. Their son Joe Vizzarri made the change to asparagus in the early nineteen eighties as the demand for this rare vegetable increased in the Japanese market.

As production increased much effort was put into developing the Australian market to appreciate asparagus as a nutritious, versatile vegetable, which is easy to prepare and enjoy.

Today three generations of the Vizzarri Family are involved in the asparagus industry. Mario and Gina are now retired but Joe and his wife Anne Marie and their three children Carla 23, Nicholas 22 and Christian 20 are continuing the tradition and growing the business from strength to strength.

“All contribute to the family business. Today Australian consumers like asparagus to be available for twelve months of the year. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that grows naturally in the spring from September to mid-December.

Vizzarris now harvest Asparagus for six to seven months of the year introducing a summer harvest, which keeps Australian asparagus on the shelves for up to seven months of the year. For the rest of the year Asparagus is imported from Mexico and Peru,” says Joe.