On-farm waste of unsaleable produce that doesn’t meet consumer expectations is something Thea Walker continuously saw farmers struggle with growing up on a diverse horticulture property in the south west of WA. To utilise blemished or misshaped avocados that her family couldn’t sell, Thea developed a dairy-free avocado ice-cream.
After trialing different ingredient combinations grown on her family farm including hazelnut, passionfruit and honey, Thea realised her homemade treats had commercial merit and provided a simple value-adding solution for other local farmers struggling with the same waste issue.
With an emphasis on sustainability and low food miles, Thea’s Acceleration Grant will enable her to create a product that is not only delicious and healthy, but also helps educate consumers on where their food comes from and prove that just because a piece of fruit doesn’t look perfect, doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyed like any other.