Max Baker Farms, TAS
Max Baker ‐ Potato Grower
Max Baker inherited his love of farming from his father, John. After a brief stint as a spare parts salesman, Max and his dad started delivering potatoes to Hobart in a ute, back in 1974. From having less than 25 acres of potatoes, M & J Baker Farms has developed into a thriving organisation with more than 109 acres of potatoes.
Dutch Cream Potatoes are grown at Kindred on the North West Coast of Tasmania. The region's rich, red, volcanic soil is ideal for growing vegetables and allows them to be grown all year round. Being in season 12 months a year means there's always plenty of work to be done. Max has some simple advice for young farmers, "Be prepared to work hard, seven days a week."
"The biggest challenges we face are pests and diseases, so we work closely with agronomists to eliminate infestation and prevent our crops becoming damaged." ‐ Max Baker
M & J Baker Farms has been growing Dutch Cream Potatoes for the past 10 years, with 100% of their crop going straight to Woolworths stores. To Max, the process is simple. The potatoes are planted and constantly watered. Once harvested, they're graded, packed and transported to stores within two days. While it sounds simple, extreme care is taken at each stage of the journey to ensure that only the finest quality produce ends up on the shelves.
As well as taking great satisfaction from supplying some of the freshest and cleanest potatoes, Max is extremely proud to have introduced this relatively new variety to Woolworths. Dutch Cream Potatoes are a great source of Vitamin C, containing potassium, niacin and dietary fibre. They are versatile, attractive, full of flavour and contain virtually no fat, which makes them a more healthy choice for potato lovers. According to Max, you should always store potatoes in a cool and dark place. This ensures they hold together and remain ideal for boiling and steaming when making salads, stews and soups.
"Dutch Cream Potatoes are a great all‐rounder ‐ you can mash 'em, bake 'em, steam 'em, fry 'em and boil 'em!" ‐ Max Baker
While farming takes up most of his time, Max also enjoys relaxing with his family, wining, dining and watching his beloved Sydney Swans. Today, the business is still family run by Max, his children and grandchildren.