Kindred Spirits - Miranda Sharp, Melbourne Farmers Markets

Long before we were selling our products through retailers, our main source of sales and connection with customers came through Melbourne’s vibrant Farmers Market network. Melbourne Farmers Markets (MFM) is a not for profit social enterprise dedicated to promoting and supporting Victorian food and producers, regional food cultures, seasonal produce, biodiversity, sustainable farming practices and strengthening relationships between the consumer and producer. 

Miranda Sharp, Melbourne Farmers Markets and Simon Schulz, Schulz Organic Dairy

Highly respected across Melbourne’s food scene and beyond, Miranda established the first farmers market of its kind at Collingwood Children’s Farm in 2002 and has continued to work tirelessly to support and promote regional producers to an urban audience. Miranda was instrumental in developing a set of standards for farmers’ markets across Victoria and has played a key role in founding the Victorian Farmers Market Association.

Why is it important to showcase regional producers, like Schulz Organic Dairy, at urban farmers markets?

 It’s easy to say we all want to know where our food comes from but there are very few ways to really meet the people who produce food for city consumers. MFM’s reason for being is ‘connecting Victorian farmers with urban communities’ so having regional producers at our markets means we achieve our purpose and make that expression a reality, not just a throwaway line. 

Shopping direct means the customer is giving all credit and the full dollar to the farmer which goes directly back to a regional community. It’s not an exaggeration to say that has a direct flow on effect in the future of farming families, jobs, services and mental health.

Coburg Farmers Market, Melbourne

What are some of the most successful / fulfilling aspects of running Melbourne Farmers Markets? 

The strength of our community during the tough times – we’ve been through fire, drought and now, sadly, floods. The lockdown years in Melbourne showed just how valuable the social, economic and supply networks became to us all, and that for all the sophistication and convenience of what we could do online, all we wanted to do was be together!

How do you scout for new producers? 

We are heartened that so many come to us by recommendation, but we also follow every lead we hear or see, we are furious networkers and we have true knowledge of regional Victoria so we know where to look!

What are your favourite Schulz products and how do you enjoy them?

Well, obviously we are very proud to have played a role in milk in glass, but also the yoghurts and we are suckers for a herb quark!

What are some of your fondest memories of working with Simon at the Schulz Farmers Market team?

I was delighted that my nomination of Simon for a Melbourne Food and Wine Legend Award (Simon won the HOSTPLUS Trailblazer Award) in 2018 was successful, and so well deserved in recognition of his family’s contribution to Victorian agriculture. His Grandfather, Hermann would have been very proud! 

I go so far back with Schulz that I remember clearly when Hermann rang me to ask if Simon could do a few markets. He said Simon was at a bit of a loose end and needed focus. That was about 2005, and the rest is history!

Our farmers market team still rise early every Saturday and Sunday morning to sell our products across Melbourne at various markets including Coburg, Alphington and Abbotsford. If you are lucky, you might even get to catch up with Simon, who still drives down to the big smoke occasionally to work alongside our team and chat with customers.

What Does it Mean to be Certified Organic at Schulz Organic Dairy?

In September we celebrate Australian Organic Awareness Month, one of the largest campaigns to promote all things certified organic, from fresh produce, packaged food and beverages to cosmetics and skincare.

With 50 years of organic and biodynamic farming under our belts, we are proud to say that all our products carry the Australian Certified Organic (ACO) ‘Bud’ stamp of integrity, considered one of the most respected standards in the world for organic production. 

Every year, our products and processes are rigorously tested through every step of the ACO process, from how we manage our paddocks all the way through to the packaging of our products.

As sustainable, regenerative farmers, we take a holistic approach to our farming practices, from the health of our soil through to our plants, animals, food, people and the environment in which we live and operate, to ensure everything works harmoniously. And of course, all our products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, fertilisers or GMOs. 

Each year we are audited by ACO Certification Ltd, Australia’s largest certifier for organic and biodynamic produce, to ensure we comply with the relevant standards – in our case, the Australian Certified Organic Standards. 

Three Areas Where Schulz Ensures Organic Certification 

Traceability 

Ensuring our products are traceable from Grass to Glass is one of many steps in our organic certification journey, says our boss Simon.

“We ourselves are audited annually to make sure that all the products, all the feed, all the grain to all the ingredients that we put into our farm and processing are certified organic from an authentic source. Anyone that uses our products to produce their own certified organic products requires proof we are certified during their own audit, this way you can be confident that the whole supply chain has integrity.

So there's this authenticity across the chain if you're buying certified organic products.” 

Animal Health 

We’ve spent generations refining organic farming to produce the healthiest cows and most sustainable methods. We use no chemicals, hormones, herbicides or pesticides on our farm, to minimise the impacts of chemical use on the land and our livestock. 

Organic is not just ‘chemical free’. It is a holistic means of growing and handling the things we consume; the whole system is linked – soil, plants, animals, food, people, environment. ‘Certified Organic’ products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilisers or GMOs. Just pure, simple, natural. We are held to account by our certifiers that we are doing what we say we are.

The health of our cows determines not only the quality, but the safety, of the milk. Thanks to modern food science and the wisdom of traditional farming practices, we now know that the production of safe milk relies on optimum cattle nutrition and health. 

Healthy cows = healthy milk. It’s as simple as that for us here at Schulz. 

Labelling

So how do you know if a product is certified organic when looking on the shelves?

“Look for the bud Logo! We’re proud to be audited by ACO, to find out more about their work check out their website,” Simon says.

Schulz Shorts: Jarrod Ward, Schulz Farmers Marketeer

Tell us what you do at Schulz in 25 words or less.

I wake up very early in the morning twice a month and fill a truck with delicious Schulz products to sell at various farmers’ markets around Melbourne. 

If someone was making a movie about your life, who would you want to play you?

Oh no, I wouldn’t inflict such a movie on the world! 

What is your favourite thing to make with Schulz Products? 

It definitely has to be pasta with herbed quark. 

Tell us your favourite customer story from the Farmers Markets.

An annual customer always inquires if we sell soy milk, which is always entertaining. 

If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you take with you? 

Assuming this is inanimate objects: Dostoyevsky novel, violin and an aeroplane.

What keeps you busy outside of working at the Schulz Farmers Markets?

My family, especially our two-year-old boy. This will become even busier in January with another boy due. I’ve also been studying for my Masters in Landscape Architecture for the past few years, which I’m looking to finish. 

What’s the best thing about getting up early for the markets? 

Seeing the sunrise during the warmer months. 

What is your go-to knock off drink? 

A dark beer like a stout or a porter. 

We Now Offer Milk on Tap Across Melbourne!

As you know, we are always on the lookout for new ideas and partners to help us on our sustainability journey.

And we have some exciting news to share!

This month we partnered with legendary Tassie company, The Udder Way, to deliver our Organic Full Cream and Low Fat Milk direct to customers, taking another step towards our mission to eliminate single-use plastic milk bottles from our business, and your lives!

Australian designed and made, The Udder Way Keg System is a convenient and reusable milk storage and handling unit designed for food service and retail. Each unit holds 18L of milk, and allows for refrigerated storage and dispensing of milk from an installed tap ensuring fresh and free-flowing milk, without the waste and clutter involved with conventional single-use plastic bottles and crates.

We are currently the sole milk supplier to food service and retailers using The Udder Way Keg System across Victoria. 

You will be able to visit retailers such as The Leaf Store in Elwood or Hawthorn and pour your own organic milk from a purpose built retail dispensing unit, using our 1L Milk in Glass bottles. Participating cafés will also have the convenience of organic milk on tap, with direct access to fresh, free-flowing milk for lattes, cappuccinos, milkshakes and more.

 Click here to find a retailer or café near you.

Partnering with The Udder Way is one of many steps in our sustainability journey, says our boss Simon.

“Since introducing Milk in Glass three years ago we have diverted approximately 26.9 tonnes of plastic from landfill. Limiting plastic waste isn’t cheap or easy but we know there is a lot of support out there for sustainable processes and packaging.” 

“Collaborating with innovative businesses like The Udder Way takes us another step closer to eliminating single-use plastics and fulfilling our sustainability goals.”

The Udder Way Keg was created by Tassie café owner Ed Crick, who developed the system out of a frustration that over 500 million single-use plastic bottles are used every year, with less than half being recycled.

“We have partnered with Schulz Organic Dairy because we share a similar vision and mission.  Each of our Kegs eliminates the need for 7,000 single-use plastic bottles over an 8-10 year lifespan before being recycled.”

“We are thrilled to announce, due to our partnership with Schulz Organic Dairy, we now have enough Kegs in rotation that sets a cycle in place to eliminate the use of one million single-use plastic bottles each year, for the next 8-10 years,” says Ed.

Ed Crick, founder of The Udder Way.

If you are interested in installing The Udder Way Keg System into your business or would like further information please click here or email us at milkinglass@schulzorganicdairy.com.au 

Schulz Shorts: Carolyne Rylance

How long have you worked at Schulz and what do you do here? 

I have worked at Schulz for 12 years. I currently cut and pack all our cheeses and have also recently been involved in new product development. My very first job at Schulz was filling the milk bottles by hand – I used to sit on a milk crate on the factory floor to do it!

What are some of the greatest changes you have seen during your time at Schulz?

I started working here with Simon in the original factory where everything was done by hand, including pot setting the yogurt.

Two of the biggest changes I’ve seen are the introduction of automation in the factory and the volume of milk now being processed in various forms.

What is your favourite Schulz product and why?

We used to make an apricot yogurt drink which we sold through the Farmers Markets, it was delicious!

How do you have your coffee?

Half strength latte, with Schulz milk of course!

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What’s the best thing about living in Timboon / in the country?

The further away from the city, the better for me! I love farm life and Timboon provides me with the perfect combination of beach and trees. Timboon has given us everything we need to raise a family.

As a Timboon local, what are your top 3 things to do in Timboon?

1. The Rail Trail

2. Beach – only 15 minutes down the road

3. Supporting the local clubs in the area

What would your last meal be?

Roast lamb and roast potatoes.

What’s your go-to knock-off drink?

Coffee!

Schulz Shorts: Paul 'Chook' Fowler, Farm Manager

Tell us what you do at Schulz in 25 words or less.

I manage the day-to-day running of the farm, which involves looking after the health of our cows, cropping and pasture management as well as the milking program.

If you were in a movie, what would it be and what character would you play?

Gerard Butler’s character in Gamer, an American science fiction/action film about participants in a game being controlled by ‘gamers’ in real life. The gamer controlling Gerard Butler (me) in the film is called Simon (ha,ha). In the film my character breaks free of the game because ‘Simon’ trusts him and he knows what he’s doing!

What’s your earliest dairy memory?

The 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. I was 10 years old and had to step up on the farm to help with milking our cows, before and after school, while Dad was fighting fires.

How do you have your coffee?

Schulz Organic Full Cream Milk cappuccino.

What’s the most unusual way to use a Schulz product?

As mentioned in last month’s Moosletter, we have been spreading milk out onto the pastures to increase sugar content in the grasses. This sweetens the grass, promoting growth and improving soil health. 

If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you take with you? 

1. Foxtel, so I can keep watching the footy.

2. My wife, so I don't get in trouble.

3. A spit, so I can still have a roast every Sunday.

What is your favourite saying on the farm?

Good job Bob.

What would your last meal be?

Roast lamb with all the trimmings.

What is your go-to knock off drink?

A nice cold beer.