Charlton Farm Produce

David Addison, Managing Director

"Being the fourth generation of our family to be born into farming, it just came naturally to be a grower," says David Addison, Managing Director of Charlton Farm Produce. And after tasting his produce, we couldn't agree more. Situated 15 kilometres east of Devonport, Charlton Farm is blessed with an abundance of rich fertile soils.

Charlton Farm have been farming this region since 1860, and the tradition will continue on with their fifth generation now actively involved. With their wealth of knowledge, and the latest technical innovations, they will continue to supply Australia with quality fresh produce.

"Because in agriculture you only have 40 attempts to get it right in your lifetime: 40 plantings, 40 growing seasons and 40 harvests. So you become quite focused on getting it right because 12 months is a long time to try again," David tells us.

Onion planting begins in mid‐May with the early varieties and continues until late September for the hybrid varieties. These are then lifted to dry in the field late December to mid‐February.
Harvesting from the field then occurs about three weeks after lifting. Then they are placed in one tonne bins, with natural ventilation that assists in the storage of the onions. The onions are then packed to order for Woolworths.

Charlton Farm has been supplying Woolworths for the last 21 years. This relationship has now grown to the point where they now supply on average between 500 to 600 tonnes of red and brown onions annually.

And when it comes to keeping your onions fresh, it's easy to do. Brown onions should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. In these conditions, onions can store for several months during autumn and winter. While red onions are best stored in the fridge as they have a shorter usable lifespan than brown onions.

But red onions shouldn't stay in the fridge forever, as they're great for salads and eating fresh. And their reduced pungency even allows you to eat them raw without overpowering the other foods. While brown onions are ideal for all savoury dishes, they are especially delicious when roasted. Just glaze with oil and cook with your other roast vegetables ‐ the onion then caramelises and tastes wonderful.