Mark Salter is a full-time employee of Fruit Growers Tasmania and provides his expertise to this role as part of FGT’s commitment to this project (MT18020).

Mark has almost 40 years in the horticultural industry. Starting out on the family’s apple and pear orcharding business in the Huon Valley which he co-managed until early 2005.

During this period mark sat on the executive of the Apple and Pear Growers Association (TAPGA) now known as Fruit Growers Tasmania. He also served as president for 2 terms and was involved in numerous committees while on the TAPGA board.

He has extensive experience in hydroponic strawberry and raspberry production. In 2001 Mark and his wife Prudence began a new venture producing Japanese greenhouse grown strawberries for the Japanese export market. This business led to Mark carrying out trials to develop hydroponic raspberry production.

In 2005 he received a Churchill Fellowship to study hydroponic raspberry production overseas. Some of the techniques developed from those trials and experience are now used in protected raspberry production today.

More recently Mark has managed several large horticultural businesses, including Reid Fruits in the Derwent Valley and was instrumental in managing the development of Pinata Farms berry project at Orielton.

With his experience and passion for horticulture he is looking forward to helping berry growers develop and grow.