Queensland is home to a range of organic producers. From fresh fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, meat and dairy, right through to soybeans, camel milk and even organic flowers – you’ll find just about everything you need right here in the Sunshine State!
The Darling Downs region is located around 1-2 hours Southwest of Brisbane city. Surrounding by rolling hills, luscious green grass and a more temperate climate, the Darling Downs is home to a range of organic growers who find the conditions just right for their organic produce.
This Australian Organic Awareness Month, Australian Organic Limited (AOL) is encouraging Aussies to ‘swap’ in one certified organic product this month. Are you a Queenslander? If so, why not start with these local businesses? Treat yourself to a taste of the Darling Downs… without leaving your home!
Note: The below locations are not open to visitors. Check the operator’s website for more information.
This weekend calls for some organic meat on the barbie from Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co. The team, which is spread between Toowoomba and Sydney, works with organic farmers to put nutritious, natural food on our plates. Their organic offerings are not only mouth-watering, you’ll also feel good about eating something that is making a positive difference in the world, one season at a time. Why not use the month of September to give organic meat a test run? Look for their flagship Cleaver’s Organic brand in your local supermarket.
As pioneers of Australia’s organic farming movement, Kialla Pure Foods has been producing synthetic chemical-free, nutrient-rich food since 1988. It was a pretty big deal when they started, near the little town of Greenmount, outside of Toowoomba. In fact, they even managed to create the area’s first ever traffic jam when they held an open day at the property. But you don’t need to cause a traffic jam to get your hands on their organic products. You can purchase its flours, bread mixes, overnight oats, smoothies, pancake mix and other crucial pantry items from a range of retailers listed on its website.
If you’re in the market for organic vegetables, you can trust the man who has been growing them for more than three decades. Rob Bauer started farming without synthetic chemicals after a number of his neighbours and friends became unwell. Back then, there wasn’t really a market for organics, but Rob wanted to grow synthetic chemical-free veggies for kids, which is exactly how his great-grandparents farmed over 130 years ago. Grown at Mount Sylvia in the Lockyer Valley, Rob’s produce is sold at organic outlets across the country, including greengrocers, home delivery outlets and weekend markets. Ask your local retailer if they stock Bauer’s Organic Farm veggies.
Craving some fresh produce after a winter spent indulging? Well, Tilco Lane Organics has it all for you. Think certified organic garlic, pastured raised eggs, microgreens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber… the list goes on! The family operation, which lies in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, is home to fertile soil that is perfect for growing certified organic produce. Check out the Tilco Lane Organics Facebook page for beautiful photos of the farm, its latest crops, shops and markets to buy its produce and even Duke the dog, who protects the hens from predators, so they can roam freely through the paddocks.
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The Bud Organic Club is an initiative launched by Australian Organic Ltd (AOL) in 2012 to drive consumer awareness around certified organics in Australia.