GROWING up in New Zealand Kendra Kerrisk vividly recalls making porridge with her aunty.
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The youngster was standing on a stool, stirring the oats rigorously.
"I was so scared it was going to boil over and my aunty kept saying: 'Just keep stirring!," she said.
A former dairy scientist and now Ganmain farmer, Kendra makes a unique product under her Brushwoods label of dehulled oats, rolled and vacuum sealed fresh rather than dried, retaining taste and flavour.
Launched about two years ago, Brushwoods fresh oats were a state winner in the From the Earth category in the 2019 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards.
Normally a producer of extra virgin olive oil, Kendra was keen to value add to other crops on the family farm, Pleasant Valley.
"We are price takers for all our other crops so could see the potential there - our wheat was not reliably high grade so I concentrated on oats as most people have porridge or use oats in baking," she said.
"We haven't been able to find anyone who can dehull our oats in small volumes so we bought dehulled oats from a Gunnedah mill, and now roll and package them on-farm.
"As we grow the business to a turnover of at least 10 tonnes a year, then we can start dehulling our own oats. We source matika oats from northern Victoria."
Brushwoods is exhibiting at Henty Machinery Field Days this week.
MEET MORE HOMEGROWN CHEFS:
What's your favourite dish?
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus.
What's your favourite season?
Autumn
What are the staples in your pantry now?
Flour, sugar, nuts, olive oil and cheese.
Which ingredients do you grow yourself?
Wheat, oats, canola, lamb, olive oil and fresh herbs.
Which six people would you invite to dinner?
The five girls from McLeod's Daughters for making farming look fun and I'd love to know their secret on keeping a white shirt clean in a dust storm! And Maggie Beer.
What is your favourite foodie ritual?
Dinner sitting at the dining table. It's a chance to discuss what's happened over the day.
What are you bingeing on TV? If anything.
I'm enjoying Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds.
What did you have for dinner last night?
Pesto pasta with homemade pesto.
What are you drinking at the moment?
Pinot noir or flat white
Details:
Brushwoods Australia,
Brushwood Road, Ganmain. Phone: 0428 101 372