Susie and Gerard Daly have been farming potatoes in Dunalley in Tasmania's south for more than 35 years. At their potato operation, Daly Farms, they offer around seven types of potatoes in rotation and trialling, including their most successful varieties: Nicola, Pink Eye, Canberra and Spudlite. Across multiple properties, the Dalys produce around 7,000 tonnes of potatoes annually.
Ruby Daly from Hellfire Bluff Distillery & Daly Farms
Their daughter, Ruby didn't set out to continue her family's legacy, but found herself drawn back to the farm when they were faced with a challenge that affects many Australian farmers.
The Dalys were experiencing increasingly stringent specifications from supermarkets around the size and appearance of their potatoes. For that reason they were not able to sell 20% of their annual yield.
To add value to the 20% of yield that was going to waste, the Dalys established Hellfire Bluff Distillery, which would turn second grade potatoes into vodka. Ruby became the marketing manager for the distillery, and later the business manager.
Ruby is passionate about reducing waste and educating consumers on 'eating the ugly fruit and veg'. She believes that if consumers are less picky about the size and appearance of produce, supermarket specifications will start to ease and farmers can get more produce on shelves and less food will go to waste.
