Stallholder Profile Gecko Grove Fine Foods
When did we start and why?
Gecko Grove Fine Foods is a family operation. We live on
acreage just outside Gatton. We have always enjoyed cooking and gardening. In
January 2013, we decided to use the wonderful produce of the Lockyer Valley to
make a range of preserves. In the days before freezer, preserving was used to
store seasonal food. Today supermarket
shelves are full of preserved food in bottles, cans or freezer packs but often
the factory process of preserving has robbed the food of flavour or filled it
with additives.
What do we make?-
Our preserves are made in small batches our licenced home
kitchen with traditional methods. They feature mainly local Valley produce and
other produce from South East Queensland. We like to give every a little
gourmet twist like slow roasting some of the vegetable or adding a touch of spice to a jam.
What do we love about our business?
We love making our preserves. We get to shop at local farms
for fresh produce and experiment with complimentary spices. We also use fruit
from the many backyard fruit trees in the area – fruit that is otherwise
wasted. We travel the world by cook book in our own kitchen. We love the
challenge of being inventive with the local produce. For example, the Lockyer
Valley grows a lot of tomatoes. Of course, we had to make a tomato relish like
my mother in law makes and everyone loves – even Bob who hates tomatoes. But
why stop there? We have Tomato and Tamarind Chutney, Tomato Kasundi, Tomato and
Pepper Sauce – and we are still coming up with new products.
Our Customers?
People buy our products for special gifts and for everyday
eating. They like the fact that we make a range – mild and spicy, chunky and
smooth, sweet and tangy – something for every taste.
An old lady who was given some of our jam contacted me to
say thank you. “To Barbara, with many
thanks for your lovely homemade jams and all.
They remind me of the past when I was growing up and things tasted like
the fruit they were made of” R.A
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