The Paddys Green mango property owner Deb Nucifora was named the 2024 Charlie Nastasi Farmer of the Year on Friday night at a gala dinner that was also a celebration of the horticultural industry in the region.

Deb was presented the 12th annual award by Charlie Nastasi’s wife, Lucy, and FNQ Growers president Joe Moro.

Describing the win as “a great honour”, Deb celebrated the award with her husband John, her parents and son who surprised her by travelling from Brisbane for the occasion.

“For me, it’s an epic night, it’s a great privilege to win this award and I want to thank everyone involved,” she said.

During her acceptance speech, Deb paid homage to her fellow nominees – Joe Zappala, who has been growing papaya and sugar cane for nearly 40 years; Claude Santucci, who has been a leader in the cane industry for many years and is now championing citrus as well; and Bradley Moulton, who leads the team at Australian Native Products as the largest grower and processor of organic lemon myrtle in the country.

“We are all winners,” she said.

“Charlie was a leader in the farming industry, he was very innovative, starting a winery and definitely a leader. His wife, his children, and even his grandchildren are farming today.

“It doesn’t just happen with just one person – I have a team, my partner in crime (John)….and two workers who are here as well, I couldn’t run the business without them.”

The event also featured a charity auction which raised almost $23,000 for Mareeba Friends of the Hospital Foundation, Down Syndrome Queensland and the Black Cockatoo Foundation to support mental health.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Moro spruiked the latest figures for the horticultural industry in the Tablelands region.

The figures revealed that the Gross Value Production of horticulture is $771 million, with citrus now the biggest earner with $170 million, followed by bananas at $169 million and avocadoes coming in at $151 million.

But the night was all about celebrating the award-winning efforts of Deb Nucifora who runs the “Deb’s Gold Mangoes” brand, with the Arriga farm hosting 17,000 trees.

The award recognised Deb’s commitment to her industry, attending every Australian Mango Industry Association conference and always looking for opportunities to develop the Deb’s Gold Mangoes brand.

Outside of her farming business, Deb is also heavily involved in the community as a volunteer with the Paddy’s Green Rural Fire Brigade and the president of Mareeba Flexi Choice providing services to people with a disability.

Later in the evening, donations of fruit and vegetables were auctioned off to the highest bidder raising almost $23,000 for charities.

Bids came from many industry stakeholders, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Western Australia to join the celebrations.

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