Other Produce
Apples - Malus Domestica
Our apples are heritage varieties – the wholesale growing of the mainstream varieties such as Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith etc., will eventually result in the loss of valuable gene pools, so we are committed to contributing to the preservation of non-commercial varieties. In Australia, few nurseries have been preserving and selling heritage fruit trees, so they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Our trees were sourced from the now closed 'Badgers Keep' at Chewton in Victoria, where Clive Winmill who had a collection of over 500 apple trees probably started the heritage fruit movement in Australia.We grow Cox’s Orange Pippins, Greenup Pippins, Blenheim Orange, Bramleys, Scarlet Nonpareil and Bess Pool.
We sell our specialist apples fresh in 2kg bags and dried slices in 100g bags.
Avocados - Persia Americana
Our avocados are Bacon, Fuerte, Hass and Reed varieties- chosen for their suitability to our Adelaide Hills climate. Each variety is characterized by different colour, shape and size:Bacon: Early season, oval shape, green, shiny, thin skin.
Fuerte: Mid season, deep green pear shaped fruit, easily peeled.
Hass: Late season, small oval shaped fruit, dark rough pebbled skin.
Reed: Late season, round fruit, glossy green thick skin.
We usually sell our avocados as single units, or occasionally in packs of 3-6.
Feijoas - Feijoa Sellowiana
Our feijoas are the old Coolidge variety which produces an egg shaped green fruit with a delicious tropical fruity aroma. Feijoas are sometimes called pineapple guava because of the unusual delicate pineapple like perfume they exude. Although originating from South America, it has become a popular fruit in New Zealand where it is commercially grown and several cultivars have been developed.When cut across, the flesh inside is off-white in colour, with a central jelly like pulp embedded with tiny seeds contained in a more solid flesh layer.
Best eaten fresh-the skin is not very palatable, so cut in half and scoop out the cream coloured flesh. The pulp also makes an excellent tropical flavoured juice. Feijoa jam is another favourite.
Feijoas are rich in Vitamin C.
We pick our feijoas when still slightly firm and pack into 1 kg bags.
Figs - Ficus Carica
We grow White Adriatic, a variety characterised by its light green skin and deep pink flesh, renowned for an excellent flavour. Also Brown Turkey and Black Genoa varieties that are Green and Russet in colour with a pink flesh.Figs are rich in calcium, iron, phosphorous and potassium and high in fibre. Our figs are tree-ripened and gently hand-picked at their peak, then carefully packed into protective lidded containers to ensure they reach our customers in perfect condition. We also sell sliced and dried Figs and Fig leather pieces in 100g bags.
Hazelnuts - Corylus Avellana
Our main variety is Wanliss Pride, with some Cosford, Kentish Cob, Woodnut, White and Red Avelline pollinators. We chose Wanliss Pride because it produces large hazelnuts with a wonderful, subtle, unique flavour- you will never want to eat the stale and often rancid imported Turkish hazelnuts again after you have eaten our fresh hazelnuts!We sell them in shell in 1kg and 3kg bags. Keep them stored in a cool place out of direct sunlight. They keep well until next season is ready. We also produce 100g snack packs of Hazelnut kernal ready to eat. Hazelnut Dukkah is availablein 75g packs, great for dipping with oil and bread. Hazelnut Bliss balls are always a great treat.
Lemons - Citrus Limon
No orchard is complete without at least one lemon tree. We love our lemons and grow three varieties: Eureka, Lisbon and Meyer.We sell them in 1 kg bags
Nashi - Pyrus pyrifolia
Although part of the pear family, the Nashi or Asian Pears are very apple like in shape and texture. Unlike pears, which soften with ripeness, Nashis remain crisp when ripe. They are sometimes known as salad pears and they certainly add a delicious dimension when served this way.We grow three varieties: Nijiseki, Hosui and Shinsui.
We sell them fresh in 2kg bags or dried in 100g bags.
Pears - Pyrus Communis
Like all our produce, our pears are grown chemical free, which means that they tend to have blemishes and black spots. Our philosophy is that you can cut off any blemish, but you can't cut off chemicals, so whilst our pears don’t look perfect- they won't harm you! We grow Lemon Bergamot, Red Sensation, Josephines and Winter Coles.We sell them fresh is 2kg bags or dried slices in 100g bags.
Pomegranates - Punica granatum
We grow the variety called Wonderful – bright red fruit with a piquant flavour. The seed sacs are delicious eaten fresh, added to salads or juiced. Grenadine is an easily made pomegranate cordial made simply by boiling the juice with sugar.The tartness of pomegranates makes them an excellent addition to many meat dishes or tagines.
Quinces - Cydonia oblonga
An ancient fruit cultivated for many thousands of years in Persia and throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean which lost favour in modern times, but seems to enjoying a revival. Its diminishing popularity may have been due to the fact that it requires cooking, however the effort required to prepare this fruit brings rewarding results with its aromatic and slightly grainy texture. Delicious poached or made into pies, jellies, jams or chutneys or the increasingly popular favourite -quince paste.We grow the old heritage Pineapple Quince variety –sold in 2kg bags .
Tamarillo - Cyphomandra Betacea
Sometimes referred to as the tree tomato, although this is a bit of a misnomer as the taste is more similar to a passionfruit crossed with a kiwi fruit. Although originating in South America, it is a popular fruit in New Zealand, where it is eaten fresh, poached, made into vinegars, desserts and jams.The egg shaped fruit is a rich red colour, revealing a striking orange flesh dotted with jet black seeds when cut. The tamarillo has a tough skin, providing a long shelf life, but a rather bitter taste, so it is best peeled or cut in half and the flesh scooped out.
The skin is easily removed by blanching in boiling water for a few seconds.
We pack them into 500g bags for convenience, but they are best placed in a fruit bowl to develop full flavour and sweetness.
White Sapote - Casimiroa Edulis
A native of Mexico, where it is known as zapote blanco and is believed to have aphrodisiac properties, this fruit has a creamy smooth texture with a rich sweet flavour earning it the nickname of 'ice-cream fruit'.The Aztecs called this fruit cochiztzapotl and it was renowned to have anti-rheumatic and blood pressure lowering properties.
The fruit varies considerably in size and shape, from plum to orange sized. The skin is pale green in colour, delicate and thin and easily damaged. The flesh is a cream colour, containing large white seeds.
They are best harvested whilst still firm, as they damage easily when fully ripe, then left to ripen and soften up like an avocado at room temperature in a bowl. Once ripe, they spoil quickly and should be consumed within a couple of days, or placed in a fridge to extend their shelf life.
The flesh can be mashed and frozen. Added to milk, they make a great smoothie, or mixed with egg and cream to make a luscious ice cream.
The nutrient value of the white sapote is very high, they have very little fat and are one of the highest sources of calcium.
We gently hand-pick our white sapotes, then carefully pack them into protective plastic lidded containers to ensure their quality.
Hops - Humulus lupulus
Hops are the flowers (also called seed cones or strobiles) of the hop plant. They are used primarily as a bittering, flavouring, and stability agent in beer brewing, to which, in addition to bitterness, they impart floral, fruity, or citrus flavours and aromas. They can be used as a tea or as an aromatic aid to sleep if used in a pillow.We have started to grow several varieties of the Hop plant. Each variety will impart a different taste during brewing. Our major Hop is called Pride of Ringwood. This hop has a strong aroma, and an earthy-citrus flavor, for late boil additions. Initial additions yield a clean bitterness. Used by Australian brewer Carlton and United Breweries to bitter all of its beers. Other varieties include Cascade, Chinook, Victoria, Fuggles, East Kent Goldings, Hallertau, Perle and Target. Not all varieties will be available.
We gently dry the hops to preserve the oil content and then vacuum pack them in 50g packs which can be kept in a freezer until required.