A LEEK is a leek is a leek, unless you've tried a Schreurs – by the man's own hand, Peter Schreurs rejigged conventional farming techniques by including organics, biodynamics, traditional with modern farming, in pursuit of the perfect veg.

For sixty years the intrepid Dutch immigrant, Peter Schreurs, has survived turbulent times and turned conventional farming into sustainable best practice.

The 84–year old still wields the stake but leaves most of the overseeing to his three sons, Mark, Darren, and Paul, who run their 'departments' as part of a 400–acre business.

"I came here as an immigrant in 1954 after my dad had lost his land, then the war came," said Peter.

"I was one of eleven children.

"I started on my own growing celery in 1964, and by 19, had bought 20 acres in Cranbourne."

Fast forwarding twenty years from those original humble beginnings, the plot of celery had rapidly become just one of the family's crops.

"After making the right connections and when my son Mark joined us in 1983, we began growing leeks intensively," Peter said.

Peter and wife Odilia secured the farm's future with several purchases of prime land, particularly on the richer soils of Devon Meadows, less than an hour's drive to Melbourne's CBD, along the Mornington Peninsula.

The farm sports an impressive entrance with rows of trees each side of a long winding road to the farmstead.

The Schreurs vary what they plant within a family of vegetables, but the focus is clearly on trimmed leeks, harvested by the millions and still their most profitable crop.

The Schreurs branding is about quality and consistency, enhanced by a high level of stewardship across a large enterprise.

No wonder their reputation is acknowledged among large food chains like Woollies, Coles, and the markets; including Japan which receives over a tonne each week.

Using recycled water has been a saving grace while a reticulated system careens its way around the farm, trapping surface water and treated recycled water, to fill a 400 megalitre dam.

A computerised hub regulates the flow of overhead irrigators.

Their untrammelled repertoire includes leeks, green crops, like kohlrabi, wombok, radicchio, legumes, corn, parsnips, mustard and radish, and they produce millions of cosbergs each year for Aldi.

"I realised I wanted to be in vegetables and made lots of sacrifices, working a 96–hour week," said Peter.

"I punished myself, for by the age of 43, my body gave up.

"Someone prayed for me and I started believing in God and studying the bible.

"I wanted to become a missionary but was happy to be a lay preacher where I am.

"We are perfectionists and research everything when we are farming.

"Although we can't control the market, a successful farm has consistently high yields.

"We also learnt how to grow wombok as a summer crop, making it less risky," said Peter.

"It is great to see the family carry on, and our grandkids too.

"Our staff are wonderful and so is the family – all are blessings.

"My dad told me when I was young, 'whatever you do, do not focus on money.

"Focus on doing things well, money will follow.

"My boys are doing very well.

"Our object is good quality vegetables and we are content," said Peter.

"My family are all around me and we just had our first great grandchild two months ago.

"People will always want to eat and although competition is stronger, the big farms get bigger where volume is essential, but you have to be shrewd.

Peter Schreurs admits faith has changed him after his 'healing' and made an impact on his life.

His sons recognise his contribution, as well as his epiphany.

Their love has always been there for their sister who has a disability.

"It's taught us to stay close together, and they adore their sister," said Peter.

"She has no speech, but she absolutely loves her brothers.

"At this stage we are not planning expansion but the business will always remain.

"The grandchildren will have to decide.

"We're quite happy to keep running it but we're not out to conquer the world."