Zero food miles: eating local for a sustainable Tasmania

Cate’s farm is not the only one in the area, or even on her road, offering roadside sales. You can also pick up hazelnuts, garlic, flowers and wine from local vineyards – including Providence, the oldest in Tasmania. While you’re in the area check out the Lock Shop Cafe in Lilydale township to find all sorts of local produce for sale in one place.

For the crispiest apples and sweetest juice you’re likely to find, venture way down south to Coreen Ung and Matt Tack’s Our Mates’ Farm, on Arve Road, Geeveston. Just look for the rainbow of juice bottles on their farm-gate shelves.

“We really like to introduce people to what apples should taste like,” says Coreen. “They are ripe and they taste like they should. And we like to introduce people to some varieties they won’t see at the supermarket. Then when it comes to the juice, it’s like: this is that apple, distilled into juice form.”

Coreen and Matt grow about 25 varieties of eating apples. The more recognisable types go to Woolworths and they also stock two local independent bulk-food shops, Eumarrah in Hobart and Unpacked in Kingston. The more unusual or heritage varieties, grown in smaller batches, are perfect for their popular roadside stall.

“It’s about that connection to your food and to how flavours should be,” Coreen continues. “Not just that bland supermarket apple that has been cold-stored for so long. Tourists come along our road on their way to Hartz or Tahune and they can stop at our stall and taste a truly Tasmanian apple. We’ve got local ones like the Geeveston fanny or the crofton, which was developed near here too.

“People should be able to taste all the different flavours of the foods that Tasmanians farm and grow and fish and produce. And roadside stalls can be that connection.”

To market, To market

A local produce market is a brilliant way to get a bunch of groceries ethically. Wander from stall to stall, chatting to producers and trying samples, and leave with a basket heaving with fresh, local goods from honey to cheese, bread to potatoes and whatever is in season at the fruit and vegetable stalls.

Harvest Market in Launceston and Farm Gate Market in Hobart are the two biggest and best-known farmers’ markets in Tasmania, with Farm Gate being named one of the world’s 10 best markets by the Lonely Planet in 2025. These, and local growers’ markets like Bream Creek Farmers Market, are excellent opportunities to meet your growers and buy direct.

Order a box to your door

If you can’t get to the market or the farm gate stall, you can have it come to you, thanks to produce-box delivery services.

Some allow you to choose what’s included but others, such as Backyard Bounty or The Kinky Kale, do the choosing for you (though you can select optional add-ons).

Bricks and mortar shops such as Unpacked in Kingston, Eumarrah in Hobart and Launceston, and Alps&Amici in Launceston each has its own produce box service.

The collective started during COVID lockdown to help farmers connect with customers when markets and farm visits had to cease.

Project manager Chez Orchard says the fresh produce at major supermarkets does not compare to what’s in a TPC box or at a farm gate.

“There are a lot of people who want to break up with their supermarket right now, for lots of different reasons,” she says.

“Tasmania exports so much of its produce, and then some of it comes back. So it's bizarre the way the food system works. We're shortening supply chains.

“Buying local, it's so much fresher. You can immediately tell the difference. Lots of new customers will say, ‘I just can't believe how long the produce lasted; I've still got lettuce from 14 days ago, and it's still fresh in the crisper!’ – we're just so not used to that.”