Robyn Turner started making and selling her homemade crackers and products three years ago. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Who are you and what is your business? Robyn Turner. I’m from Yenda and my business is called Mirrool Cottage. I make artisan crackers and other products from locally grown ingredients. I also run winery and local tours via my business Bella Vita Riverina Tours.
When and why did you begin? I started about three years ago, doing a part-time job and then a bit of this. I went to Woolworths one day and there were no Australian-made biscuits and I thought I can do this. I just got local produce and it just kept growing. I thought I could do something different, promote the area and promote the people as well. I know all the people from the wine industry and restaurants, I’m pretty lucky with all the support I have received.
What do you produce? Small-batch wafers, sultana and hazelnut crackers, figs and strawberry jam, orange and almond crackers, all sorts of items for cheese platters. I make lavosh (Armenian flatbread). Some days I get orders for six kilos and I make that, other days I make 10 packets. Because I’m small, I have the luxury of making something specialised.
Where can we buy your products? You can get it at Zecca Handmade Restaurant, Limone Restaurant and the Griffith Visitors Centre. You can get them out of town in places like Albury and Wagga.
Mirrool Cottage crackers are made from locally grown ingredients. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
What is something we could buy from you that would make a perfect gift? I sell a lot to hamper companies, especially towards Christmas. A hamper makes a great gift, you get a variety of locally grown products.
If you could make anything in the world, what would you make? A thousand-layer pastry. They have it at Zecca Handmade Restaurant. It’s a little triangular pastry and you have to keep working it to make more layers, it’s so small. I just don’t know how they do it.
How would you promote the Riverina? It’s our food bowl. We are spoilt for choice. We have everything you can possibly want here. It’s on a big scale, but people are dedicated to it and want it to work well. I just love promoting it.
What’s your favourite coffee spot? The coffee is great everywhere in the Riverina.
Coolest local thing you’ve ever bought? Mushrooms from Murrumbidgee Gourmet Mushrooms in Leeton. It’s a real boutique place and she’s doing really well.
Who is another local producer/business you admire? Naturally Dried Prunes. She does paddock to plate. She is really motivated to do great things for business and the community. She’s doing something different, it’s a unique product.
Region Riverina is committed to celebrating our local producers and creatives and encourages everyone to buy locally.
If you’re aware of someone who’s making something amazing, let us know!
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