On the banks of the Mitchell River, not far from Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, grows one of the nation’s biggest supplies of leafy salad greens.  

Andrew Bulmer’s family has been producing leafy greens at their Lindenow farm, 270km from Melbourne in East Gippsland, since 1989. “We try and be the best and most consistent growers in the nation,” says Bulmer. “We even compete on the international stage, exporting to Southeast Asia.”  

Their sprawling farm is a massive exercise in horticulture on the silty loam flood plains of the Mitchell River, a few kilometres upstream from Bairnsdale. Planted in fine straight lines, the patchwork of different hued crops are irrigated in great sprays with water drawn from the river. 

The main crop here is baby spinach. Seed is planted directly into carefully prepared rows and grown until ready for harvest. It is picked, washed, chilled, packed and transported in semi-trailers on the Princes Highway to processing plants around the nation. The majority of the farm’s baby salad greens are sold through Coles supermarkets, and at the height of production in summer, 20 per cent of the leafy greens sold in Australia are grown at Bulmer Farms. The Bulmers also deal directly with independent retailers such as IGA, selling Bulmer Farms-branded baby broccoli. 

Bulmer Farms employs 120 people, making it one of the largest employers in the district. It is known in the industry for its green status and for controlling pests without doing damage to the good bugs that form an important part of a healthy ecosphere. It is also recognised for its healthy soils and for caring for the waterways on which the farm relies.  

Products: baby spinach, baby broccoli, baby salad leaves  

bulmerfarms.com.au