THE Australian Pumpkin Seed Company started in Chinchilla, Queensland in 2002 but it had its roots in Slovenia decades earlier.
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Sharan Rivett is a third generation Styrian pumpkin seed grower and, with her husband Jay, runs the family business which relocated to Ovens about five years ago.
"We grew up with the pumpkin seed oil, it was in the blood,” she said.
"Dad grew up growing these pumpkins as well, I guess it just evolved from growing up on a farm and always looking after the vege garden, and the cows … This is just continuing on really.”
Pumpkin seed and oil production is a $100 million dollar industry but the Rivetts produce the only Styrian pumpkin seeds and oil in Australia – about 20 tonnes of seed a year.
They imported their European-built harvester to increase production, with seed collection originally done by hand.
The harvester uses spikes to pick up pumpkins after they are de-stemmed and rowed, it then mashes the flesh and extracts the seeds.
The flesh is returned to the soil, along with the vines.
Dried seeds are supplied directly to clients around Australia.
“The key thing for consumers that we try to get across now is that all the pumpkin seeds they see out there are imported from China, and they don’t realize it,” said Mr Rivett, a former artisan baker.
“These aren’t, they’re a different variety and they have a lot more nutrition and are about three times the size and it grows without a shell.
“Albury-Wodonga has been really supportive, nearly every health food shop in Albury-Wodonga stock our product.”
The dark green Styrian seed is rich in nutrients, with a nutty taste similar to pistachios, while the dark oil can be used as a replacement or in conjunction with other oils and is said to have prostate benefits.
Seeds, including popular chocolate-coated ones, and oil are offered at their press and education centre at Ovens on the Great Alpine Road.
They also press nuts, such as hazelnut, walnut and almond kernals to create extra cash avenues for themselves and North East nut growers.
Seed harvest around Myrtleford has been in full swing for several weeks, and the Rivetts also have other contracted suppliers across Australia and are heavily involved in education, research and development.
