LEADING voices from Australia’s certified organic industry have told a federal inquiry into food and beverage manufacturing they are being held back by Australia’s world-lagging approach to labelling laws. The peak industry group, Australian Organic Limited (AOL), and Australia’s largest certification body, ACO Certification Limited, were flanked at the public hearing in Brisbane by representatives from high-profile brands including Barambah Organics, Nerada Tea, Kehoe’s Kitchen, Trumps Organics, Inglewood Farms and Hive+Wellness Australia. AOL Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, told the inqu ..read more

Central Natural Farming Co in Emerald have just harvested their organic grain sorghum, which is bright red in colour. The Central Queensland team are veteran organic growers since 1991, and the sorghum is certified ACO-USDA/NOP-Korean. To enquire, reach out to Kevin via 0419 657 245.                      ..read more

Sourcing quality, ethically produced certified organic meat can be a challenge in major cities, but there are innovative retailers who sell direct from local family farms for consumer convenience. One such example is Sherwood Road Organic Meats in Rocklea, who stock Brisbane’s biggest retail range of certified organic beef, lamb, goat, pork, chicken and smallgoods. The family business is a unique enterprise, with dad Adrian Tiller supplying lamb & beef from his organic property near Roma, Western Qld, while his daughter Amy Tiller owns and runs the Rocklea store.     Sherwoo ..read more

Melbourne-based family business San Elk have been producing a range of certified organic stocks since 2017. Their business is built on a passion for natural and additive-free foods that liven up your pantry and help turn ordinary meals into delicious ones.   San Elk offer a range of four products, all of which are certified organic; They have a Beef Bone Stock, a Chicken Stock, a Vegetable Stock and a Low FODMAP Vegetable Stock. Each batch is hand-crafted using high quality dehydrated and finely ground vegetables, herbs and spices, mixed with other natural ingredients to make a tasty and ..read more

This year’s winners of the prestigious Australian Organic Industry Awards were crowned at a gala event in Melbourne on Friday evening. Hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), the awards ceremony marked the conclusion of the two-day 2024 Australian Organic Conference at Pullman Melbourne on the Park. AOL Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, congratulated the winning businesses and individuals for their outstanding contributions to Australia’s $2.6 billion organic industry. Australia’s largest certified organic meat producer, Hewitt, was named Business of the Year, while its retail brand ..read more

After nearly six years at the helm of Australian Organic Limited (AOL), Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, has announced she will be stepping down from the role. Ms Ford, who became the organisation’s first female CEO in 2018, made the announcement at the close of the 2024 Australian Organic Conference that her tenure will end on 31 July. “Our industry has so much to offer Australia’s collective future, and as I have said so many times the sector is still to reach its full potential,” she told Conference attendees at Pullman on the Park in Melbourne tonight. “As the industry progresses, it ..read more

The 2024 Australian Organic Conference is underway in Melbourne, with keynote speaker, US impact investor Robyn O’Brien, known as “food’s Erin Brockovich”, saying Australia is the global frontline of the intersection of agriculture, climate and food security. Centred on the theme ‘Our Future, Growing Together’, the two-day event has brought together the leading lights of the certified organic industry to focus on three pillars – business growth, the environment, and people and animals – covering topics such as profitable production systems, proactive management, how to upscale businesses, and ..read more

Australia’s finest certified organic producers, processors and operators will be celebrated at the 2024 Australian Organic Industry Awards, with finalists announced across seven categories. Hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), this year’s awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the conclusion of the two-day Australian Organic Conference, held at Pullman Melbourne on the Park on 7-8 March. AOL Chief Executive Officer, Niki Ford, said this year’s award finalists cover some of the most recognisable brands and products available to Australian consumers. “It’s clear certified organics i ..read more

Five Sixty Farms is a family-owned organic microgreen farm located south of Lismore. The certified business is dedicated to producing the freshest and highest quality microgreens using sustainable farming practices. For those who don’t know, microgreens are young plants that are harvested when they are only a few inches tall, just after they have developed their first true leaves. These young plants are packed with nutrients and have a 60% to 80% higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than their fully grown counterparts. Microgreens are used as a garnish, added to salads ..read more

Forward thinking and community involvement are often key themes of organic businesses in Australia, and AOL Member Charles Higgins is a great example of these concepts. Charles is part of an expanding local co-operative in the Nambucca Valley region on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, where he and four other growers produce certified organic macadamias for the Australian market. Charles has 12 hectares of macadamia trees on his property. The decision to switch to organic came at a time when world pricing for macadamias was volatile, and the local Nambucca Valley growers wanted to establ ..read more