Bronwyn reports: - “It was a very interesting event and we have come home with lots of ideas and information.  Of most interest was the session on different cultivars, (There is a new book coming out by Penny Woodward in September)  From this it is clear that there are a number of cool climate cultivars that we could be growing in this region, which we currently are not, and that could potentially extend our harvest season to February.  The majority of mainland garlic is harvested in November, with later harvests really only happening in Tasmania.

“It was also very clear from distributor representatives at the conference that there is a strong demand for Australian garlic and that we are a long way from meeting this demand. (Approx. 20,000 tonnes of garlic per week is sold by the major chains). There is a need for more growers in the industry.

What is very apparent to me is that garlic is a very good farm crop for the small producer in that is does not require a great deal of land for production.  On average a grower can produce 6 - 8 tonne per hectare (min 2 tonne per acre). While garlic has intensive labour inputs at particular times it does not require this level of labour intensity while it is growing.

Certainly high tech mechanised planting and harvesting equipment is expensive and prohibitive to small individual growers, but there are also low tech and cooperative approaches to manage these intense labour times.  As individual growers we may not feel that we can grow suitable quantities to sell directly to a distributor however as an area this may not be the case and there is no reason why we cannot join our harvest to sell directly to a distributor. There is now a distributor/wholesaler /supplier company member on the AGIA board.  They are very interested in supporting the development of Australian garlic production and can be approached directly to purchase bulk/tonnage of garlic.

“Garlic is a crop that this region can produce and produce well.  We need to give serious consideration to further developing garlic growing for profit on a regional basis.

“I have joined the AGIA as an individual and I have also asked that we be able to join as the Braidwood Garlic Growers Group and this is being considered at their next meeting.  This membership will give us access to a great deal of information; garlic seed sources and other support.  

Also many people sent their regards to Giles Bonnin I let everybody know that we consider Giles to be the father of Braidwood Garlic.

Let’s grow more garlic”