Dick and Dora Rochford

Farmer rating (pending assessment by the PFA): AA
Supplying Food Connect since: 2005
Farm visited by Food Connect: Yes

Dick and Dora Rochford have been farming garlic on their 50 acre farm in Tenterfield since 1987. Dick grew up on an organic farm in Ireland and immigrated to Australia in 1975. They have followed organic practices for years and four years ago they gained their organic certification.

Growing garlic was originally an experiment with the next door neighbour who was in the food industry and Dick and Dora thought that perhaps they could grow it and their neighbour could market it. Dick sourced his garlic from Northern China. The AGA (Australian Garlic Association) brought in 96 samples to try, and of those the Oriental Purple grew the best. Although a smaller garlic, it has the same intensity of flavour as a larger variety.

Tenterfield is a cold area, sometimes down to –12°C, and experiences frosts. These are ideal conditions for the Oriental Purple variety of garlic.