GROWERS and producers of meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, including a beef farmer from Queensland, learned how to value-add their product at a workshop at the Tramsheds in Launceston.
Jilly Tyler, from northeast Dalby on Darling Downs, who has an Angus stud along with broadacre crops, said she came to the Seedlab program to learn more how her family’s operation could value-add their produce.
“We came for a two-day visit. This workshop with the quality of experts in their fields was worth the trip,” Mrs Tyler said.
“My mother came too, she has finger line grove and learned tips to help her develop that.”
The program by Seedlab Tas and Trade Tasmania helped producers learn about selling everything they grow and make for a profit and finding ways to further add value.
A panel of experts in their fields spoke about their experiences.
Susie Daly, of Daly Potato Farm, said as farmers they were price takers not price setters.
“By value-adding our skin blemished or misshapen washed potatoes, we were able to increase the value of that product, by making potato salad, and build a new enterprise that became valuable: Daly Potato Co, now owned by Pure Foods Tasmania”.
Julia Fisher, of Freycinet Marine Farm, said images from her operation have been used in national program depicting Tasmania.
“We have developed a range of export-ready award winning pickled mussel products and a range of dry soup mixes from our under/over-sized mussels,” she said.