S4 Ep 13 - Echo Valley Farm
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
As first-generation farmers, this family says they started small and safe – but there’s nothing small about the big issues they’re addressing. Ethics, sustainability and regeneration underpin everything they do. To achieve that, they have a passion for First Nation’s knowledge combined with giving their animals the most natural life possible on a farm. To learn more about Echo Valley Farm, Randal Breen joins me now to discuss: Randal shares his favourite place on the farm. As a first-generation farmer, he explains why he chose this life — to care for the land while working...
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S4 Ep 12 - Cracking Bird Flu
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Eggs - they’re an easy and usually affordable source of protein and nutrition. But walking through most Australian supermarkets lately, it’s clear cracks have appeared in the industry. So why is there an egg shortage and why when you do happen to find some are they so expensive? Egg farmer and sector advocate, Danyel Cucinotta from LT’s Egg Farm joins me now for the lowdown on avian influenza. We catch up with Danyel, who still finds the work on the farm deeply emotional but continues to love both the work and the land. As an egg farmer, she has experienced firsthand the significant...
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S4 Ep 11 - Koala Corridor
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Macadamia farming is their day job – saving Koalas is their passion. In a pocket of Northern NSW just west of Byron Bay, there is a healthy crop of trees producing delicious macadamia nuts on a commercial sale. But there’s another forest on the same farm – and there eucalyptus is king. And Koalas are loving it. The Viola family is part of a growing trend that’s seeing farmers dedicate some land to saving our adored marsupial. To learn more about the koala corridor Dale Viola joins me now to discuss: Dale’s favourite place on the macadamia farm and eucalyptus oasis. How and why this...
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S4 Ep10 - Sprouting a New Generation
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Siblings Erin and Josh Cranwell know a thing or two about Brussels Sprouts. Five generations of their family have produced them. But returning to the farm after high-school to take up a career in the business has surprised everyone, not least themselves. The brother and sister from Hay Valley and Lake Plains in South Australia, now live and breathe this superfood. Well aware of the bad reputation the humble sprout has attracted, they are passionate about educating consumers about their wonder crop. To learn more, Erin Cranwell from AE Cranwell and Sons join me now to discuss: Erin’s...
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S4 Ep 9 - Boon Luck Farm
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
It’s one thing to love feeding people – it’s another entirely to care so much about what they eat, that you grow the produce yourself. Such was her passion for food, that’s exactly what the owner of beloved Thai restaurant Chat Thai has done. It’s changed the ethos of the business, which first opened in Sydney in 1989. Today, there are 5 eateries, and if you dine at one of those venues, you might be lucky enough to taste the gorgeous organic produce farmed in the Byron Bay hinterland. To learn more about her desire to feed her own family and her customers with food grown with care,...
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S4 Ep 8 - Second Squeeze
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
There are few things more disappointing for a farmer than growing produce that can’t be sold because of aesthetic imperfections. Food waste is an issue that affects many primary producers, but with better technology and some entrepreneurial minds, that may all soon become very avoidable. Second Squeeze, as the name suggests is a business offering a second life to perfectly good food, that would otherwise be destined for landfill. To learn more co-founder, Brent Beauchamp joins me to discuss: Brent’s favourite Second Squeeze product that they have created so far. They turn perfectly good...
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S4 Ep 7 - In a Pickle
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Pickles and McDonalds are a long-standing partnership. But many of us may not have thought about how those perfect circles are grown, fermented, sliced and finally, served up on your burger. Incredibly, there is just one family responsible for all those Maccas pickles Australia-wide. The Parle Family has been producing pickles for the fast-food chain, on their farm in Griffith, NSW for more than 3 decades. Operations Manager, Ben Parle joins me now to tell the story of the famous Parle Pickle. Ben’s favourite place on the farm. Although the farm has been around for a long time now,...
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S4 Ep 6 - Banking on Farming
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
As a fifth-generation grain grower from north-east Victoria, James Russell has a lot of hands-on experience. Despite that, furthering his formal education has helped him take his farm and career to the next level. He’s recently finished a dual degree in agribusiness and farm management and also ventured into the corporate banking sector. As the worlds of farming and banking collide, James has plenty of insights. He uses his skills to advocate for other growers and to expand his own operation to include fascinating elements of seed production like seed cleaning . To learn more about his...
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S4 Ep 5 - Dancing into Dairy
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Pivoting from a career as a dancer to a dairy farmer, isn’t the most linear path. But for my guest today, it’s landed her in place where she feels right at home. Celina Pellett suffered a debilitating injury – a broken back and it caused a rethink. She’s now happy working among her cows in the NSW Gloucester region. To learn more about the unlikely road Celina Pellett has travelled, she joins me now to discuss: Celina shares her favourite spot on the dairy farm in the New South Wales Mid-Coast region. Originally from New Zealand, Celina reveals her family’s history in the dairy...
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S4 Ep 4 - Caviar & Kings
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
The saying, ‘fit for a king’ denotes a product of impeccable quality. It’s not often it literally means a king will try it. But in this case, caviar and kings go hand in hand. For anyone not previously familiar with the sustainable Murray River Cod produced by Aquna, in the NSW Riverina region, it certainly came under a spotlight during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s recent visit to Australia. To learn more about this pioneering business, Aquna’s CEO Ross Anderson joins me now to discuss: Ross gives us an overview of Aquna and their unique approach to producing Murray Cod....
info_outlinePastures are already pretty green in New Zealand, but this newly married couple wanted to find something extra special. They landed on Gippsland in Victoria where dairy farming became their main source of income, but they value added, bringing in a pick your own strawberry patch, on-farm café, petting zoo and playground. If it all sounds very family friendly, it’s because Nicole and Brendan Saunders know a thing or two about kids, having four of their own. Nicole from The Berry Dairy joins me to discuss:
- Moving from New Zealand to have a better life here in Australia.
- Nicole shares her favourite place on her farm.
- In 2018, Nicole and Brendan were newly married and she shares why they decided to move to Australia.
- Brendan grew up on a dairy farm and Nicole is also a generational dairy farmer.
- Diversifying into agritourism and the beginnings of ‘The Berry Dairy’.
- The range of people they see coming through and what to expect on a family-friendly day out.
- As well as strawberry picking, customers can have a meal at their on-farm café where 90% of the produce is locally sourced.
- This model has earned them some impressive awards and, the response they have received.
- The highs and lows of the last 12 months and Nicole’s openness when it comes to the struggles.
- Strawberries, although generally seasonal have been growing almost all year round.
- What Nicole loves most about life on the land.
- A common misconception about farmers.
- The most unexpected thing to happen since starting.
- Nicole's ultimate dream for the future of The Berry Dairy.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.