The Producers, a Food Podcast.

Reuben Mardan is the founder and owner of Sample Coffee, a cafe, roastery, retailer and wholesaler in Sydney. Reuben first worked in coffee as a side job but his engagement grew as the specialty coffee scene burgeoned and the first Sample outlet opened in 2011. After a decade in the business, Reuben still finds the industry enriching, especially because it allows him to connect with people at the...

When the pandemic landed, it forced most in the food industry to re-think offering. With a handful of successful restaurants, the likes of Dear Saint Eloise, Love Tilly Devine and Ragazzi a young dynamic group began making fresh pasta to heat and serve at home. Cam Birt, a professional in the realms of artisan, bespoke food products saw an opportunity, not just as a stop gap, but to create a whole...

Third-generation farmer Catherine Velisha is the managing director of Velisha Farms, based in Werribee South on the outskirts of Melbourne. She’s also the founder of VegEducation, a training organisation that promotes the diverse opportunities in farm work, as well as extolling the virtues of veg to the broader community. The way she sees it, horticulture is nourishing in every way: a great busine...

After living in New York and embracing the deli culture Joel Mevissen (Westmont Pickles) saw an opportunity for quality Australian pickled cucumbers. Over a couple of beers in the backyard with good mate and chef Calvin Lidden they began working with a local farm network to develop and foster a local market for pickling cucumbers. https://www.westmontpickles.com Follow The Producers on Instagram h...

Other than water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. We drink our share of tea in Australia but we are far from a major grower. Given that, it’s a surprise to learn that Nerada Tea in Queensland grows enough tea to make 750 million cuppas every year. Managing director Tony Poyner fell into the industry but working at Nerada soon swept him up and he became happily steeped in tea culture...

Having grown up on a farm, Tom Bjorksten (Misty Creek Agroforestry) witnessed the challenges of working the land and set his sites on a career in Sydney. But, after studying and landing a government job he had a yearning to be back on the land. Together with his wife Nicole, they headed to Northern New south Wales where they now run a Syntropic agroforestry farm. https://www.mistycreekagroforestry...

Ed Nolle brews sour beer at Dollar Bill Brewing in the Australian beer capital of Ballarat. In 1870, as Australia’s gold rush tailed off, Ballarat had more than 500 pubs - panning for gold is clearly extremely thirsty work! The gold is mostly gone but Ballarat is still a beer centre, with a culture of brewing nurtured by local Federation University which offers courses in malting and brewing. Ed a...

After years of having a few lamb on the vineyard to eat the weeds amongst the vines on their property, Brent Old (Coole Acres Organic Lamb) realised an opportunity. He set about finding the right breed of lamb, and the means needed to farm organic Dorper lamb that now not only services the local food-loving community but has caught the attention of chefs and butchers in Sydney too. https://instagr...

Nigel Wood grows truffles at Truffle Paddock, a small farm outside Melbourne where 600 trees coax Tuber melanosporum into existence. He also sources truffles to make products including truffle honey and truffle salt, and is the founder of the Truffle Melbourne festival. When Nigel bought his farm, he thought he might grow grapes for wine but the aroma, flavour and romance of truffles hooked him in...

Looking to find a better way to do things, Tim Eyes (The Food Farm) and his wife Hannah started to look at the world of farming differently. They devised a plan to lease a series of properties to move cattle and chickens around constantly to ensure a regenerative farming method and a real connection with the community in the region too. https://thefoodfarm.com.au Follow The Producers on Instagram...

Anne Coote runs a small cattle station near Moree in northern New South Wales. The way she sees it, she’s farming soil and dung beetles as much as she’s farming cattle. Focusing on the soil and the carbon cycle that supports it is a necessary rethink, an essential mindset for our farming - and eating - future. https://www.facebook.com/anne.coote.75 Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.ins...

After growing up on a sheep and cattle property Jacki Hinchey (Blue Dog Farm) headed to the city to build a career. But the strong connection to the land drew her back and now she supplies salad leaves to the community and some of Queensland’s best chefs too. https://www.bluedogfarm.com.au Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/producerspodcast/ Host Anthony Huckstep https://w...

Nick Holliday runs Belvedere Farm on Jinibara country in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland. Nick was a lawyer and union organiser before buying a property he originally thought would be a fun weekender...but then he got more serious. Working alongside his wife Brydie, their approach goes beyond regenerative farming to agro-ecological principles with building community at its heart. It’s...

After a long career in the city Lee Towle (Longview Garlic) had a yearning for an off-grid lifestyle. Lee and her husband set the GPS for the Southern Tablelands and not only built a sustainable off gird farm, but now produce some of the best garlic in the country too. https://www.longviewgarlic.com.au Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/producerspodcast/ Host Anthony Hucks...

Georgie Rogers raises White Suffolk sheep on the edge of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. As a solo newbie hogget farmer, the four-year journey has been challenging but rewarding despite - and even because - she occasionally has her arm up to the elbow inside a pregnant ewe. https://www.rogersfarmbarossa.com Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/producerspodcast/ Host A...

After a career in environmental management and finding more sustainable farming practises fourth generation farmer Lucy Dodd (Lowan Park Produce) returned to the farm in the Dodd family since the late 1920’s. Her passion to create and sustain regional communities through sustainable agriculture has seen her taking on the challenge of farming pasture-raised chickens with outstanding results. https:...

Pastry chef, chocolatier and chocolate maker Deniz Karaca is so embedded in the world of chocolate that he sees it as part of him: it’s his identity and passion, it’s who he is. But chocolate has also pushed Deniz to question, explore and change, as he’s transitioned from creative patissier to craft producer. Cuvee Chocolate, his bean-to-bar operation on the outskirts of Melbourne, has ethics at i...

Inspired by the farmers’ markets while working as scientists in the US, Stan Robert (Fat Carrot Farm, Tasmania) started forming a greater connection to the food that fuelled their bodies. It led to a yearning to grow their own, and now they have an organic vegetable farm that supplies some of Hobart’s best restaurants. https://www.instagram.com/fatcarrotfarm/?hl=en Follow The Producers on Instagra...

After growing up - and running wild - on a dairy farm, Sallie Jones founded Gippsland Jersey in 2016. She ensures farmers are paid a fair price for milk, promotes mental health and wellbeing in rural communities and approaches every business situation with kindness foremost in mind. It's been a complex and challenging journey fortified by community at every step of the way. https://gippslandjersey...

Greta Donaldson eased her way into confectionery as an escape and alternative from her stressful work in public relations. Slowly and surely, her passion has turned into a thriving sweet treat business that’s allowed her to make deep connections with her regional community, find balance and bring joy to brittle lovers all around Australia. https://www.bendigobrittle.com.au Follow The Producers on...

After building a career in the hospitality sector, Jordan Sly (Wormticklers) had a yearning for a greater connection to produce. He set himself a mission to grow the best quality organic seedlings and he’s now become one of the most important parts in the organic food chain on the east coast of Australia. https://www.wormticklers.com Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prod...

Victorian producer Kerri Farrell and her spud sister Catherine farm potatoes, source potatoes and sell potatoes to fine dining restaurants, farmers’ markets and online. Third generation farmers and providores, Kerri loves being a spud specialist, enjoys the opportunities for connection and education and truly believes you can never be too enthusiastic about potatoes. https://spudsisters.com.au Fol...

Inspired by native haired sheep seen on their travels to South America, the Gilmore Brothers set out to breed a fully haired meat sheep intended for Australian conditions. Through years of careful breeding using the latest technology and techniques, they succeeded in their venture, developing a unique breed of lamb, certified as the Australian White, and as Tim Leahy (Margra Lamb) explains, some o...

If you eat Australian-grown pumpkin seeds, you can be sure they’re from Pepo Farms, a unique farming and production business based in northern Victoria. For owner Sharan West Rivett, Pepo’s mission isn’t just growing and selling a product, but also advocating for its health benefits and culinary potential, and enriching the land which makes it all possible. https://pepofarms.com.au Follow The Prod...

The Achacha has been domestically cultivated for centuries in the tropical lowlands of the Amazon Basin. But after being introduced to the tropical fruit by a friend, Helen Hill and her husband Bruce (Achacha) set about creating the world’s first commercial plantation in Far North Queensland– and the world is taking note. https://www.achacha.com.au Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.ins...