A local dairy farm steeped in tradition and authenticity has taken out the delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards state title for the third year running.
Sixth generation Tommerup’s Dairy Farm in the Kerry Valley is the Queensland state finalist in the dairy category of the 2022 awards.
Tommerup’s are Queensland’s only dairy finalist in the awards, which have previously recognised several individual dairy products as state finalists, but this year shifted focus to highlight the good farming practices behind the award-winning produce.
The tiny farm with a big heart is proving there is room in the market for producers of all sizes to survive and thrive.
Kay and Dave Tommerup milk just 20 cows on their 200-acre property in a deliberate bid to focus on quality over quantity and regenerate their farm for generations to come.
Kay said, thanks to the support of conscious consumers, there was no waste on the farm.
“It’s becoming more of a focus with chefs, how they can be part of that whole cycle by taking vealers and therefore allowing us to raise all our calves and not sell any as bobby calves and allowing us to focus on the production of cream products by taking our milk-fed pork which uses the waste product of skim milk,” she said.
Kay and Dave made the bold decision to leave processor Norco on 2 January 2021 after establishing their own Tommerup’s Jersey Girl line of boutique dairy products in 2019.
It was a decision they did not take lightly, having supplied Norco since 1984, when the company took over the former Logan and Albert Co-Op.
Kay said they hoped to encourage others to have confidence in their product and their ability to succeed without a middleman.
She said the award was a win for the Scenic Rim and for conscious consumers everywhere.
“This award means so much because it’s not just recognition of the quality of our product, but also recognises the extra effort that goes into making a clear choice to regenerate our farm for future generations,” she said.
Tommerup’s now proceed to the Produce Awards national judging in Sydney in May, where a panel of Australia’s leading chefs and restaurateurs will judge the 2022 trophy winners.
