FAMILY-RUN VINEYARD CANCELS PICK-YOUR-OWN FRUIT WEEKEND AFTER ABHORRENT BEHAVIOUR FROM GUESTS
- Grapes on Swan is a family run vineyard
- Fruit and crop was destroyed
- Read more: Furious flower farm owner blasts 'feral' customers
A farmer has blasted disrespectful visitors for wasting hundreds of kilograms of produce during a pick-your-own event - and shut it down as a result.
Grapes on Swan, a family-run vineyard in Swan Valley, has been operating for more than 30 years and offering pick-your-own to visitors for the past seven or eight years.
The vineyard hosted its latest event over the Easter long weekend, encouraging families to pick their own pomegranates, with free entry.
'Unfortunately, due to the complete lack of respect of some of our visitors today, we will no longer be able to offer pick-your-own,' the owners wrote on Facebook.
'We had a large percentage of our crop destroyed today by people picking pomegranates and then throwing them on the floor.
'We also had people sitting and consuming these behind our large trees, where they thought they couldn't be seen.'
Mandarins and limes were also picked and thrown to the ground despite still being unripe.
Owner Denis Kljuce told ABC Perth radio this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, with their sultana variety previously destroyed.
With fuel and fertiliser costs rising, the latest setback couldn't have come at a worse time.
Mr Kljuce said he was in shock when he found out what had happened.
'I can't see what's happening behind the scenes, but by the time I had a look around, I couldn't believe that 300kg to 400kg was wasted,' he said.
'I caught some adults, but mainly kids not being policed by their parents.'
With pomegranates selling for $8 per kilogram, the loss would have amounted to at least $2,400.
As a result, the Kljuce family said they would have to change the way they operate in the future.
'Due to this, the extreme financial loss and the clean-up we've now been left with, pick-your-own pomegranates will not be happening again,' they said.
'Moving forward, these will be pre-picked by us and available to purchase at our tent.'
Mr Kljuce said the event could continue with grapes, but with added conditions like a gold coin entry or allocated time slots.
He told Daily Mail he took steps to ensure visitors followed the rules.
'We clearly explain the rules to every customer prior to entering our vineyard,' he said.
'We also provide samples of our produce so people are aware of what they are picking.
'We police areas as much as we are able to but given we are a small family run vineyard, there are limits to these checks that we carry out.'
Despite the destruction, he said he still enjoys opening the gates to the public.
'We have many beautiful customers and love meeting new people but unfortunately, it is a minority that spoils it for others,' he said.
'We strongly believe it's important for people to experience fruit picking, and for the younger generation to understand where it comes from.'
While he said the family hadn't received any apologies, they had been inundated with messages of support which they were 'tremendously grateful' for.
The vineyard has since sold the remainder of its pomegranates.
Aussies were appalled by the behaviour of the visitors, with many disgusted by how disrespectful they were.
'What a bunch of morons,' one said.
'That would make me so angry so I don't blame you for cancelling. You work hard to make it a nice opportunity for everyone and a few idiots spoil it.'
'Some people are just selfish pigs, but that is an insult to pigs,' a second said.
'Some people are just unjustly entitled and self indulgent a**holes.'
Read more 2026-04-08T00:12:29Z