Radio couple tune into popular demand

SALLY Dakis and Chris Wisbey’s 10ha farm in Richmond is a shining example of how a mix of passion for horticulture and local markets can create a successful and fulfilling business. 

The couple, with a background in media and radio–both became rural household names as presenters of the ABC’s Country Hour– started their cherry farm more than 20 years ago and today supply cherries, peonies, and now hydrangeas to markets around the state. 

Ms Dakis grew up with a deep interest in horticulture, which runs in her family. 

“It must be in my DNA,” she said. “My great-grandfather was a pioneering horticulturist and my uncles and brothers are involved in horticulture, citrus and viticulture.” 

After studying horticulture and environmental science, Ms Dakis had a successful career as an agricultural journalist before starting the farm with her husband. 

“I think we were looking for something more outdoorsy, living in the country,” Ms Dakis said. 

“We thought we’d start with a little existing cherry orchard that was already here but, in the end, we just redeveloped the whole property including that orchard.” 

Her passion, paired with Mr Wisbey’s construction skills, proved to be the perfect combination. He built the netting for the cherries and planted half of the 2ha orchard. 

“It’s been a combination of skills really, and now we’ve been farming here for well over 20 years,” Ms Dakis said. 

While they initially focused on cherries, the couple experimented with new produce over time. Ms Dakis started growing peonies six or seven years into starting the farm. 

The couple used to be part of a consortium with two other growers that exported cherries across Australia and around the world. After those growers retired, Ms Dakis said they decided to shrink the business and focus on being hyper-local. 

This change coincided with the rise of the local food movement, and they embraced the opportunity to shorten their supply chain through local markets. After a cherry industry scholarship, Ms Dakis realised she wanted a more direct supply chain. 

“That means we don’t have all those freight expenses and the short supply chain means we’ve got pickers here today, we can sort this afternoon and then we’re at the markets on the weekends,” she said. 

“You can’t get a much shorter supply chain than that.” 

Ms Dakis said their commitment to the local markets had been the key to their success. 

They regularly attend markets such as Salamanca, Richmond, Launceston Harvest, and Hobart’s Farmgate. 

For Ms Dakis, connection with customers at markets is one of the most rewarding aspects.

“The feedback we get from customers, especially at markets, is motivating.” 

The Richmond farm currently grows seven varieties of cherries, including Lapin, Sweet Georgia, Regina, Stella, and Morello sour cherries. Sally and Chris rely heavily on water from the southeast irrigation scheme. 

“We couldn’t do what we do without that water supply,” Ms Dakis said. “It’s high security, reliable, and of excellent quality. It’s enabled us to do everything we do here.” 

The irrigation system allows for intensive farming, particularly with high-density planting of cherries. 

In addition to cherries, the couple grows a hectare of peonies, which are all under drip irrigation. 

“It was a bit of trial and error in the beginning, but after a lot of ground preparation and work, we’ve got it right.” 

They also use compost and mulch to improve soil health and suppress weeds, avoiding the use of weed mats that could make it harder to add compost later. 

Ms Dakis is passionate about heritage fruit and grows around six varieties of quinces, berries and pears. 

She has also recently started experimenting with hydrangeas planting the “Sundae Fraise” variety in Tasmania. 

The unique hydrangeas, bred by the Renault family in France, are the first of their kind to be grown in Tasmania. 

“Instead of big round heads, these hydrangeas have a cone shape, grow on a cane and they can be grown in full sun, which is rare,” she said. 

“Three generations of the Renault family have been breeding them for more than 50 years in France. We pay a royalty to grow them.” 

"Fraise" translates to strawberry in French, and much like a strawberry ripening, these hydrangeas start as green flowers, before turning to cream and then eventually, pink. 

After planting 750 Sundae Fraise plants a year ago Ms Dakis is now seeing the first flowering.

“I fully expect there’ll be a few years where we have to learn what they like and what they don’t like,” she said. 

Soil health and sustainability is at the heart of the farm’s practices. 

“Before planting we focused on soil health with the use of Tasmanian made Biochar and tree guards to protect the new stems from rabbit damage,” she said. 

“Every farmer knows that in horticulture weeds take so much energy and you’re taking time away from other better jobs and it depletes the soil, and it competes with the plants.” 

As with many horticulture businesses weather challenges can be an issue. 

A recent spring storm caused major damage to their cherry netting, which was costly and stressful to repair. 

However, Ms Dakis said they’d been lucky this year with avoiding cherry damage from the rain. 

Looking ahead, Ms Dakis plans to focus more on growing flowers and selling them locally.

“We’d like to sell to florist direct and to continue sell locally and at Farmgate market,” she said. 

Over the summer Ms Dakis said they have had very successful events that were becoming very popular.

The couple’s pick-your-own events have become very popular, and they see potential for growth, especially as the flowers gain popularity on the mainland.

“We hope they become popular in Tasmania too,” Ms Dakis said.

Recently, they partnered with a new neighbouring vineyard, Caldon, for a twilight event, which was a huge success. 

Over the years, Ms Dakis has witnessed the growth of the farmers market movement, which has paralleled with their business.

“Farmers markets weren’t really here 20 years ago, and the same with the pick-your-own events,” she said. 

“I think, you know, over our time we just take it for granted.” 

“But the movement paralleled with our business that allowed us to do the local markets.” 

 “I think that farmer-consumer connection has absolutely grown and it’s given us the impetus to keep doing what we do because it’s a direct relationship,” Ms Dakis said. 

“It’s very easy in agriculture to lose that connection to the consumer, but we go to Salamanca market or Farmgate and people say, ‘Oh, this is beautiful fruit,’ and it’s motivating.” 

For her, the most rewarding part of the business is seeing the impact their fresh produce has on customers. 

“It’s lovely to be proud of what you take to the market,” she said. 

“We’re not here to be the biggest—we’re here to be local and to provide fresh, quality produce that we’re really proud of."