Rohan's Zesty Connection

on August 3, 2018 at 4:12pm

When life gave Rohan Bicknell lemons, he gave them wings and shared them with the world. As the founder of fresh produce purveyor Produce Art, Rohan flies 35 tonnes of Aussie produce out of BNE every week to all corners of the globe.

Rohan started Produce Art in a Salisbury warehouse in 2015, after recognising the world had a healthy appetite for the safety, freshness and taste of Australia’s fruit and veg. Today, you might say he has a finger in peach, plum and cherry pies all over the globe.

Rohan’s biggest export is Queensland mangos, flying more than 200 tonnes of the golden, juicy gems as far afield as Canada over the four-month season. Lychees, avocados and rockmelons are also frequent flyers with customers in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

“What started as a passion for exciting local flavours quickly became a way to share our country’s delicious and unique produce with the world,” he said.

Rohan’s passion for local flavour has worked wonders in gaining recognition for Australian farmers — and he’s helping them squeeze goodness from every drop.

But it’s not just our farmers and Rohan’s international customers reaping the fruits of his labour — the exporter has started a local exotic fruit club, with various exotic varieties featured each week for Brisbane customers to buy, try and add to their fruit bowls. He makes it his mission to introduce taste buds to as many new fruits as possible, from persimmons and feijoa to native finger limes.

“There are endless varieties that most people have never heard of — we’re missing out on flavours that would make anyone smile!” he said.

Rohan’s favourite fruit? The once-overlooked feijoa, which he also grows in his own orchard near Stanthorpe, is what you might get if you cross a strawberry with a guava and a pineapple. Rohan flies about six tonnes of the kiwi-sized fruit to BNE from New Zealand each year.

“If it wasn't for the proximity and size of the airport I would not be able to do my job effectively,” he said.

“Brisbane Airport helps us fly our fruit and veggies all over the world as quickly as possible so everything arrives fresh and in perfect condition. That keeps our customers — and our farmers — very happy.”