In the heart of Carnarvon’s rich food bowl, surrounded by thriving crops and fertile river country, Borich & Sons have become part of the fabric of the Gascoyne’s agricultural story.
Family-owned and operated, the business began with Zeljko and Ruzica Borich, who arrived in Carnarvon from Croatia in 1988 with their young daughter in search of opportunity, hard work and a better future. After years of share farming, the family purchased their own plantation on North River Road in 1994 — laying the foundations for what would become one of the region’s leading horticultural operations.
Today, that legacy continues with sons Marko and Ivan, who returned to Carnarvon after studying in Perth to help grow the family business and continue shaping the future of agriculture in the region.
For Marko, Carnarvon represents far more than farming.
It’s a place where opportunity, lifestyle and community exist side by side.
“There’s so much opportunity, so many sectors to work in, and community’s huge in these small country towns,” says Marko.
From a thriving agricultural industry and diverse career opportunities to the incredible coastline and relaxed way of life, Carnarvon continues to attract people seeking both connection and possibility.
With rich soils, reliable water and ideal growing conditions, the region plays a vital role in Western Australia’s food production — producing everything from capsicums and sweet corn to tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelon and herbs that supply kitchens and communities across the State.
Like many growers in the Gascoyne, the Borich family has adapted alongside the landscape. Faced with changing conditions, rising costs and crop disease, they shifted their growing approach to focus on quality, innovation and sustainability. As one of the first growers in the region to install large-scale crop netting, they significantly improved yields while reducing pests and disease pressure across the farm.
Now spanning more than 117 acres, Borich & Sons have become the largest producers of sweet corn in Carnarvon while continuing to diversify their produce offering and invest in the future of the region.
In 2021, the family opened a farm gate shop welcoming visitors travelling through Carnarvon to experience the region’s produce firsthand — offering fresh fruit and vegetables alongside homemade biscuits, relishes, chutneys and local honey.
For the Gascoyne Food Festival, stories like Marco’s are at the heart of what the Festival celebrates — the growers, producers and families whose connection to land, community and hard work help define one of Western Australia’s most extraordinary regions.
Because the Gascoyne is more than a destination.
It is a place grown, gathered and shaped by Country.
