I was born in 1956 at Paddington hospital, New South Wales. My first memory takes me back to my primary school years on Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. Back then, it was not a trendy suburb, it was just a suburb by the beach. My childhood years were good.

My passion and almost obsession for fresh fruit and vegetables started from a very tender age. We were privileged enough to have Mr. and Mrs. Mangraviti’s Italian Fruit Shop situated right next to my parents’ shop-fitting business. My parents specialized in providing cabinetry to retail shops especially the fruit shop industry in Sydney.