An Interview With Brookfarm (With New Product Exclusive!)

May 01, 2018Mark Lenga
An Interview With Brookfarm (With New Product Exclusive!)

1. Can you tell us a bit about how Brookfarm began?

Founded in 1999 by Pam and Martin Brook, Brookfarm is now one of Australia’s leading gourmet food manufacturing companies. Brookfarm began life at the Bangalow market (Northern NSW) in November 2000. Since then, their award-winning range of macadamia mueslis, muesli bars, Walkabout fruit & nut mixes, premium-grade macadamia oils, and even their oven roasted macadamias are sold throughout Australia and exported overseas.

In the early days, the Brooks would create their mixes on the family farm and then use the ovens at the local bakery to toast their muesli. Martin Brook would then load the muesli into the back of his car and sell to local shops & cafes. Today, Brookfarm bakes from its own purpose-built bakehouse in Byron Bay, NSW, however, Pam Brook still creates all the Brookfarm products! 

The environment and sustainable farming practices lay at the heart of Brookfarm. The Brooks have planted over 35,000 trees on their Byron Bay hinterland property, regenerating the local rainforest. The bakehouse is powered by the sun with 288 solar panels, and Brookfarm always sources ingredients from Australian farmers wherever possible.

Brookfarm sell to independent supermarkets, quality food stores and select cafes and restaurants, resorts, hotels. Brookfarm also supply to both domestic and international airlines in business and first class.

Brookfarm is a generational family company committed to Australia’s farmers, sustainable agriculture and regional food production of the highest quality.

Brookfarm founders

2. In three words what does Brookfarm stand for today?

Our core values are “Environment, Community, and Real Food.”

3. We absolutely love your macadamia products, especially the Lemon-Myrtle Infused Macadamia Oil - what farming practices are used to create such fine quality?

At Brookfarm we are first, and foremost, farmers. We have the environment at the core of everything we do.

As such, over the past 30 years, we have purposefully regenerated the farm's ecosystem - the rainforest. Over 30,000 rainforest and eucalyptus trees at Brookfarm are now home to native owls, snakes, and insects. These native animals naturally provide protection from pests that would otherwise damage the macadamia crop and diminish our yield.

solar powered brookfarm

4. A bestseller at Satisfine Foods is the Brookfarm Brother's Blend. What was the inspiration behind the name?

Will and Eddie, the son’s of founders Pam and Martin Brook, grew up on the farm and learnt the business. Brothers Blend Entertainer was designed by Will and Eddie some years ago to reflect their passion for premium ingredients and taste. Today, it has become one of our most popular nut mixes.

Excitingly, Will and Eddie have been at it again, and later this year we will launch another premium nut blend in the Brothers Blend Range. 

Brother's Blend Watermelon Pizza

5. Finally...what's your favourite Brookfarm product at the moment?

We have over 60 products in our range now - and so many interposing flavour combinations - but for me it’s still our award-winning and original toasted muesli, Toasted Cranberry and Macadamia. It’s just such a treat. It’s a great all-rounder - I have it with milk for brekky or with yogurt as an after-dinner dessert. My kids love to eat it straight from the pack.

All that said - we have some amazing new flavours coming out in 2018 - including a new preimum Brother's Blend, so watch this space.