Twist Brothers turn to turf farming

Chloe Evans, Rick, Jeff, Jayden and David Twist and Brad Albin... “The crop has changed, but we haven’t changed the way we operate as a business.” Inset: The next generation, Aster and Lennox Evans, get a ride on the farm with grandad Jeff Twist.

Forty six years in business is quite an achievement, by anyone’s standards. And for the Twist Brothers, the key to their longevity and success lies in their commitment to their staff, their customers and their family.

“Probably most people in the district know us for growing strawberries,” said Rick Twist. “And when we made the change to turf farming, it was hard to leave the strawberries behind. We had wonderful staff and have made a great mob of friends over those years.”

The Twist Brothers are Rick, Jeff and David, and in 1972 they started growing strawberries at Chevallum. “It’s a really good spot for growing strawberries,” Rick said. “The soil is perfect and so is the climate.”

At their peak, Twist Brothers Strawberries employed up to 250 people and had 1.4 million plants in the ground. 

“The most difficult aspect of the change was losing the connection with community organisations”

Their premium berries were sold all around Australia. “Growing strawberries is really labour intensive and we have many memories of the entire team out in the fields, harvesting fruit in the pouring rain because there were days of heavy rain forecast for the Coast,” said Rick. 

“It was a situation where all of the fruit had to be harvested or it would get moldy and be ruined. So there was a lot of pressure at those times, but they were also some of the best times. After the team got the fruit in, we would put on a huge BBQ and beers for everyone.”

The labour-intensive nature of strawberry farming as well as changes in the market were behind the transition to turf growing.

“You basically couldn’t have a day off from strawberries,” Rick said. “As well, in 2018 there was the situation where strawberries were being deliberately contaminated with needles, which was a terrible thing for the industry and I think that even today, there are still producers suffering. 

“It seemed to be a good time to move into turf. The most difficult aspect of the change was losing the connection with community organisations like the Chevallum Primary School. Every year, the kids would walk across to the strawberry patches during Strawbfest to pick fruit. It was such a great event to be part of.”

Chloe Evans and her brother Jayden Twist still work in the family business. Chloe is a qualified Horticulturist which makes her a good fit for the current evolution of Twist Brothers. “Jayden is pretty much able to turn his hand to anything, which is necessary in a farming business,” Chloe said. “He was driving excavators before he could walk! We also have Brad Albin who has been working for the Twist Brothers for 23 years.”

Twist Brothers Turf is in its third year of operation. The first two years have been spent in transition and now the turf is ready for harvesting. “Growing turf has enabled us to scale back a little, and it is a bit less intensive than growing strawberries,” Rick said.

“We have chosen varieties that we believe meet the demands of most people who are in the market for turf,” Chloe said. 

“Currently, we have Wintergreen Couch, Soft Leaf Buffalo Sapphire and Native Zoysia Nara. People are generally pretty time poor, but they still want to enjoy a beautiful lawn. 

“So we have chosen varieties that incorporate the features of low maintenance, drought and salt resistance, are hard wearing, rapid repairing will suit most soil types and outcompete weeds, will grow in the shade, and suit all budgets. It’s a pretty tall order, but we have these criteria covered,” she said.

“I am asked lots of questions about getting the best results from turf and I think the key to growing a lush, healthy lawn is in the advice you get before it is installed and the support you get afterwards.

“Preparing the site, choosing the correct variety and taking care of it while it is establishing are so important,” said Chloe. “We are able to help with all of this. We can deliver the turf, and have excellent preferred installers, to make sure it is properly laid. As it turns out, Winter is a great time to lay turf. It is a little slower to establish, but it needs less water and by the time Spring rolls around, it will be looking beautiful.”

“The crop has changed, but we haven’t changed the way we operate as a business,” Rick said. “We treat our workers and our customers like family, because everything extends out from that.”

• Twist Brothers Turf is at 447 Chevallum Road, Chevallum. Phone: 5445 9251. M: 0488 409 502. W: twistbrothersturf.com.au