Moore's Farm Fresh Vegetables
Cameron Moore and Darren 'Tex' Cassidy, business partners
It's been 35 years since Glenn and Dinah Moore first started growing vegetables in the majestic and fertile surrounds of north‐eastern Tasmania. It was a natural succession that when they retired in 2011, that their son Cameron and fellow employee Darren 'Tex' Cassidy went into partnership, continuing the Moore's Farm Fresh Vegetables legacy.
The Moore farm, located in Scottsdale, referred by many as the 'capital' of north‐eastern Tasmania, is the ideal spot for growing root vegetables. The abundance of red volcanic soil, picturesque rolling hills and temperate climates allow for Moore's Farm Fresh Vegetables variety of carrots, red and brown onions and the obscure ‐ yet delicious ‐ swede, to thrive.
Naturally both Cameron and Tex have a long association with growing and packing vegetables. Cameron grew up with vegetables practically coursing through his veins. He took a short break from the family veg business to attend Ag school in Geelong, before returning to work full‐time on the farm. While Tex first started working with the Moore's in 1983, and over that time he's gotten down and dirty with all aspects of the operation.
The two men are a complementary duo, with Cameron heavily involved in the planting, cultivation and harvesting of their vegetables, while Tex manages the processing, quality and packing elements. In all, Moore's Farm Fresh Vegetables employ 30 full‐time staff, with their high‐quality produce reaching all Woolworths' stores throughout Tasmania. At Woolies, we've been fortunate to be on the receiving end of the Moore's superb produce for over 30 years, and ever since Cameron and Tex joined forces.
Their passion for being able to supply fresh produce straight from their lush paddocks in Tassy, to the shelves of Woolies is what drives them, even when the times are tough.
"I've never thought of giving up", says Tex. "We've had some hard seasons, but we've always found a way around it." Cameron couldn't agree more, reflecting that the hard years just make you look for a better way of doing it, "You might change a process, or options. The hard years help make the good years better."
And Cameron's involvement in his produce extends beyond the paddock, going straight to the stomach. Below he shares some of his own mouth‐watering tips on how to best serve his vegies:
- Carrots; Grated or pureed carrot is a fantastic way to include vegetables in casseroles, stews or sauces. Even include carrots in cakes and slices for a healthy treat!
- Red onions; These don't need cooking. Simply chop up and toss into a salad or sandwich to add some amazing colour and flavour.
- Brown onions; These are often added to sauces, chutneys, jams, stews and stir frys for their incredible flavour.
- Swedes (also known as rutabaga... yes, really!); Chop it into chunks, then boil, steam or roast. And swede chips or puree are a great and tasty addition to your meal.