Welcome to ‘Behind the Farm Gate,’ a podcast created by Mornington Peninsula Produce.
If it’s grown, bred or raised entirely on the Peninsula, it’s easy to identify with the Mornington Peninsula Produce brand, and this podcast wants to celebrate that.
We will uncover the stories from behind the farm gates and help you; the eaters and the foodies learn about the origin of your food: where it’s grown, who grows it and when it’s in season.
‘Behind the Farm Gate’ is jam-packed with insights and local knowledge on what makes the Mornington Peninsula a truly amazing food bowl; giving you the confidence to support local, either buying direct at farm gates or through local markets and retailers on the Mornington Peninsula and further afield.
Let’s swing open the farm gate and be nourished with food grown locally with love on the Mornington Peninsula all thanks to the Mornington Peninsula Shire and MPP.
Listen to two passionate voices talking about the local food movement, from the combined perspective of farmer and farmgate owner with Sophie O’Neil from Torello Farm and chef and restaurateur Sean Flannagan from Wildgrain Restaurant and farmer at Torello Farm.
Explore what it really means to know your farmer and appreciate where your food come from. Delve into the benefits of short supply chains and eating seasonal and local for nutrient density and full-flavour produce. The Torello farmgate has evolved over time, sourcing from a community of on-site small scale farmers and over 90 producers locally to become the beating heart of the local farming network. Sean and Sophie share stories about their love of food and insights on produce driven thinking, from how people shop and menu planning in line with the seasons.
With a deep commitment to community and food grown and sourced with integrity, the future of food on the Mornington Peninsula is in safe hands with Sophie and Sean.
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17 Oct 2025
Small but Mighty
Join us for a kitchen table chat with farmers, friends and collaborators, Erin Summers from Little Pier Farm and Fiona Gray from The Community Press and Shoreham Bee Club.
With a focus on all things olives, Fiona and Erin talk about their shared love of olives, caring for the land, the vital role of bees and the creation of a community project helping small-scale and backyard olive growers press their own olives to create a unique oil, that is all about community and local provenance. Proving that many passionate small-scale producers coming together can have a mighty impact.
We hear about Erins journey from city-dweller to farmer and how the generosity and knowledge sharing of people like Fiona and the local small-scale farming community has helped her settle in as an organic and regenerative farmer on the Mornington Peninsula.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
17 Oct 2025
Mornington Peninsula Made
Hear from three much-loved local artisan food makers in this lively conversation between Tyler Miller, co-owner and baker at Millers Bakery, Rod Evenden, co-owner of Mumma Made and Luca Bellucci, co-owner and artisan maker at Island Pasta as they discuss the local food scene on the Mornington Peninsula.
We hear the origin story for each business, the challenges and rewards of the journey so far and how living and working on the Mornington Peninsula shapes their food to make it truly connected to community and place. We explore their place in the local food scene, from collaborations with other farmers, producers and stockists, to being sought out by some of our most talented local chefs and building a legion of passionate regulars.
We hear about how sourcing local ingredients is an integral part of each business, supporting local and building relationships that lead to the most unexpected and delicious flavours.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
18 Mar 2025
Bonus Episode: Main Ridge Dairy Head Cheesemaker
Great cheese starts with happy goats, healthy pasture and ends with the talented head cheesemaker Charlotte Rusch at Main Ridge Dairy.
Hear more from her in the bonus episode, showcasing her meticulous care to every step of the cheesemaking process, a dedication that has helped the dairy to produce some of the finest, award-winning cheeses in the country.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
7 Mar 2025
New Kids on the Farm
The team at Main Ridge Dairy have been busy since taking over this much-loved Mornington Peninsula business during the covid years.
Hear from owner Sonia Kent, farm manager Scott Wardlaw, just two of talented and passionate team behind Main Ridge Dairy—a working goat farm, artisan cheese producer, and café.
Sonia and Scott offer insights into ethical farming, quality produce, and their paddock-to-plate philosophy as they share their passion for farming on the Mornington Peninsula, the importance of seasonality, and their commitment to regenerative agriculture.
Great cheese starts with happy goats, healthy pasture and ends with the talented head cheesemaker Charlotte Rusch at Main Ridge Dairy.
Hear more from her in the bonus episode, showcasing her meticulous care to every step of the cheesemaking process, a dedication that has helped the dairy to produce some of the finest, award-winning cheeses in the country.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
7 Mar 2025
Continuing the Legacy
Hear from next generation farmers Jay and Nick Young from Flinders Farm Gate and Matt Gallace from Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm who are continuing the family farming legacy in very different ways.
Take a deep dive into the world of family farming on the Mornington Peninsula, from garlic and flower farming at Flinders to berry farming in Main Ridge.
We chat with two local farming families who share their insights on preserving their farm’s legacy, navigating the challenges of next-generation farming, and the innovative changes they’ve made to ensure their farms continue to thrive.
From tradition to transformation, this conversation highlights the passion, resilience, and adaptability that keep these farms flourishing.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
7 Mar 2025
Seed to Plate, Your Flavour Guarantee
Join us for an insightful conversation with Executive Chef & Farmer Simone Watts from Barragunda Collective and Robin Koster-Carlyon co-owner of Transition Farm as they explore the Seed to Plate philosophy.
Delve into discussions on food security, farm and food planning, and the vital role time plays in sustainable farming. Simone and Robin will share the fascinating stories from behind the farmgate, offering a deeper understanding of the care and intention that goes into growing, sourcing, and creating food with purpose and full of flavour.
With a deep commitment to sustainability, both have invested significant time, effort, and energy into incorporating the connection between land, food, and community, offering valuable insights into sustainable farming and ethical food production.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
12 Dec 2024
Mornington Peninsula Produce
Welcome to ‘Behind the Farmgate,’ a podcast created by Mornington Peninsula Produce.
If it’s grown, bred or raised entirely on the Peninsula, it's now easier to identify with the Mornington Peninsula Produce brand, and this podcast wants to celebrate that..
We want to hear the stories from behind the farm gates, and help consumers learn about the origin of their food: where it’s grown, who grows it, when it's in season and how far it has travelled.
‘Behind the Farmgate’ will encourage consumers to connect with growers, either buying direct at farm gates or through local markets and retailers on the Mornington Peninsula and further afield.
Let's swing open the farm gate, and be nourished with food grown locally with love on the Mornington Peninsula all thanks to the Mornington Peninsula Shire and MPP.
www.mpproduce.com.au (https://www.mpproduce.com.au/)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
4 Dec 2024
Future Farmers
The Future Farmers program creates pathways for aspiring farmers to gain skills, build networks and grow a resilient farming future.
Torello Farm is the homebase for this inspirational pilot program that aims help build the next generation of small-scale farmers on the Mornington Peninsula.
We hear from market garden lead Claire Barnes and participants, Alexandra Cox and William Guymer as they traverse the Mornington Peninsula, learning from our diverse and passionate community of farmers, growers and produces.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
3 Dec 2024
Regenerative Mornington Peninsula
The diversity of farming on the Mornington Peninsula shines through in this episode as we hear from regenerative farmers Gab Banay from Lil’s Yolky Dokey Eggs, and Cam Hines from aquaculture business, Southern Seagreens.
They share stories of farming on the land, producing eggs laid by happy pasture-raised hens, and farming our seas, growing native kelp in the oceans off Flinders and hunting the invasive wakame seaweed in Port Phillip Bay.
While their working days might look very different, both businesses use innovation and regenerative thinking and processes to deliver high quality produce while giving back to the environment.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
3 Dec 2024
Kitchen Gardeners Talk Paddock To Plate Farming
Join extraordinary kitchen gardeners Julie Bennett from Montalto Winery, and Sally Peterson from Tedesca Osteria as they go deep into the joys of paddock to plate dining, and growing fresh produce at scale to help create menus that are ever changing and firmly linked to the landscapes of the Mornington Peninsula.
They share their love for the land, the local producer community, and share stories of what it takes to grow quality produce for some of the finest restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula .
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
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