Mike Titley - 2002 Graham Gregory Medal for excellence in horticulture
“Mr Titley has been one of the most influential people in the Australian fruit and vegetable industry over the past 25 years. Throughout his career he has been responsible for many initiatives which have significantly and permanently progressed the Australian vegetable production and processing industries. Some of his key initiatives have been: Broccoli: the transformation of broccoli from a minor seasonal crop in Australia to a staple vegetable available all year round. Gatton Expo: the development of the Gatton Expo from a regional field day into the premier vegetable field day in Australia which now attracts visitors and exhibitors from all over Australia and New Zealand. Vegetable exports to Asia: the development of broccoli as a staple crop in Australia and export of broccoli to Asia was initiated in the early 1980s and continues today. Supply of Vegetables to the fresh processing sector: through innovation and an understanding of the requirements of both growers and processors, Mr Titley developed systems where growers can supply high-quality produce, especially lettuce, to processors all year round. Mr Titley’s efforts have always been grower-focussed, applying sound scientific principles and research findings to make significant practical improvements in the field. In addition to his research efforts, Mr Titley has had a successful academic career, with 10 years as a lecturer in vegetable agronomy at the University of Queensland, Gatton, (formerly Queensland Agricultural College). Mr Titley is the immediate past president of AuSHS, a position he held jointly with Tony Biggs, and has been an active member of the American Society for Horticultural Science for the past 20 years.”
