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Growing up in San Giorgio La Molara, Italy, Pellegrino and Fernando Palma, two brothers, worked on the land with the family growing produce in the mountains of Italy.

Pellegrino Palma migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in 1968 and lived Carey Gully in the Adelaide Hills with his uncles helping out on their farm and working various jobs to make a living such as Chapmans in Nairne, SA.

Pellegrino got married in 1976 to Maria and then had two children, Connie (1977) and Angelo (1979). It wasn’t until 1979 when Pellegrino and his wife Maria opened up their first fruit and vegetable shop in the Foodland complex in Mount Barker named “Peters Fruit Bowl”.

In 1985, Fernando Palma migrated to Australia after seeing what his older brother had accomplished. In 1985 Pellegrino and Fernando purchased the farm at Hahndorf from the Percy Family where they started growing produce. They grew many things such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, sweetcorn, potatoes, various herbs, spinach, silverbeet just to name a few. All this produce was sold in “Peters Fruit Bowl” and at the East End Market in Adelaide which then moved to Pooraka and now known as the Adelaide Produce Market.

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In 1985, Fernando got married to Marisa (Scarfo) and had two boys of his own, Angelo (1986) and Antonio (1987). By this stage, the family worked on the farm while Maria managed the store. Many local residents would stop in at the farm in Hahndorf and purchase goods from the family that they have grown. After some time, people were requesting items they didn’t sell. The family helped out by bringing those goods from the market until they decided to open a store in Hahndorf.

In 1990, they opened up the Hahndorf store the “Hahndorf Vegetable Garden”. The manager there was Marisa, Fernando’s Wife and the manager at “Peters Fruit Bowl” was Maria, Pellegrino’s Wife while the husbands worked on the farm.

In 1993, the family constructed a new shed on farm in Hahndorf as the business grew and needed more space. Once built, the family moved the business into the newly built shed and named it “The Barn”. This was short lived, only to have the local council remove them out within the year.

From 1994, the Palma family battled the local council to have approval to move the business from the small shed at the back of the property to the larger shed at the front of the property (approximately 50 meters). Little did the family know then that this was the beginning of long battle with council.

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“Peter’s Fruit Bowl” was then sold in 1998 to cover legal costs. After eight years battling the council to get approval to move the business 50 meters, the Hahndorf Vegetable Garden was moved to its current location in 2002. The grand opening of the store had Alexander Downer cut the tape on its official opening.

In 2004, Tony Palma (son of Fernando) finished school and started working in the business. He is now our Wholesale Manager looking after most of the Hospitality clients and also purchases the fresh produce for the store.

In 2005, Angelo Palma (son of Pellegrino) started working in the business after being a motor mechanic for 8 years. Angelo’s role is General manager.

In 2011, Angelo AJ Palma (son of Fernando) started working there after 4 years in Real Estate. His role is Accounts Manager.

In 2012 the sons started making their own mark in the business with the rebranding, such as the name change to Hahndorf Fruit and Vegetable Market, a new logo etc. Many renovations have taken place since, the major ones being the carpark which was completed in 2014 and the new Entrance and sign board in 2016.

In 2013 Pellegrino and Fernando got some inspiration from their roots of Italy and decided that we start baking traditional Italian bread. Since then we now have an in-store bakery where Pellegrino and Fernando still work in today making fresh baked bread and tasty Pizza’s every Saturday.

In 2016, they launched their own florist named Olive & Sage inspired by the herb garden and the olive trees that surround the shops carpark.

We are fortunate to be able to work people who have the passion for great food