Organic offering puts vegetables in the mix

THE owners of a southern organic farm say they are offering Tasmania’s first certified organic vegie-box program.

Hermione Hickling and her partner James Hutchinson, of Longley Organic Farm, put together a selection of seasonal produce at its best for the program.

“We really wanted to connect people to their local fresh seasonal food from a certified organic farm,” Ms Hickling said.

“We believe this is the first certified organic farm direct to consumer delivery vegie-box program in Australia.”

She said the boxes could offer a selection of organic food for less than it would cost from a retailer.

“We offer a range of staples in the box and may include something unusual and explain how to use or cook the new vegie.”

Standard boxes will have 10 to 13 items. Large boxes will have 12 to 16 each.

Delivery is throughout greater Hobart.

Early season boxes include spring and summer harvest offerings such as strawberries, raspberries, baby carrots, broad beans, radishes, peas, spring onions, chives, salads, herbs and Asian greens.

The program moves to midsummer boxes for January and February and autumn mixes for March to May.

“We are a GMO-free micro farm growing more than 70 varieties of organic vegetable, fruit and herbs,” she said.

Ms Hickling and Mr Hutchinson started developing an organic farm in 2007 and they grow vegies using the same small plot of land over many seasons.