Kalfresh is a vertically integrated vegetable farming, processing and marketing business that has been operating in south-east Queensland since 1992 and has a collective agricultural history that spans generations. They control the whole journey – from seed to shelf. Kalfresh supply whole, pre-packed and prepped Certified Organic and conventional produce to retail and food service customers here and overseas across key crops including carrots, green beans, sweet corn, onions, baby capsicums, pumpkin, mini melons and brassicas. The company launched its first convenient ready-to-eat carrot products in 2015 and since then has focused on how to make veg consumption easier for Australian families.
As farmers first, they can move the crop from harvest to processing super-fast to lock in freshness for great tasting veg that lasts in the fridge. Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman says the company takes a “make it easy” mindset to prepared veggies and that’s the philosophy behind their recent launch of new ready-to-cook Sweet Corn Ribs. Kalfresh’s ready-to-cook range also includes trimmed beans and sweet corn cobettes.
Carrot Sticks & Baby Caps
When it comes to snacking vegetables for lunch boxes and platters, Kalfresh carrots sticks and baby capsicums are the standouts in this range. The Just Veg range, available at Woolworths, takes carrots that are too big, too small or too wonky and gives them new life as carrot sticks and shred.
With their joint venture partners, the Jurgens family, Kalfresh is Australia’s largest producer of field-grown baby capsicums – a versatile, guilt-free sweet snack. What gives them their flavour and vibrancy is the unique combination of being grown in-field, ripened on-vine and being hand-picked during the mild North Queensland winter. The health of the soils and sustainable farming methods result in these colourful, nutrient-dense bite-sized snacks.
Corn Ribs
Kalfresh recently launched a new prepped veg product, Sweet Corn Ribs. Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman supports the AUSVEG Pledge for More Veg and is committed to meaningful action to increase vegetable consumption nationwide.
“Call us biased but we’re passionate about seeing veggies on more Aussie plates, more times of the day,” Mr Gorman said.
“One of the ways to increase consumption is to offer a product that competes with take-away options on flavour and speed.”
Ready in eight short minutes, Sweet Corn Ribs are juicy, messy, delicious, just like meat ribs but with veg. They’re perfect for grilling on the barbecue, or in the air-fryer. Getting your daily serve of veg couldn’t be tastiest or faster than this.
“Corn Ribs are huge in the US, and we are confident Australian shoppers will embrace them too,” Mr Gorman said.
“We know that success in the ready-to-cook market is also dependent on shelf life and repeat purchase is driven by a positive experience at home.
“Because we grow, wash and pack the fresh vegetables we can achieve superior results because we chill and cut crops soon after harvest which locks in flavour and freshness.”
Kalfresh Sweet Corn Ribs come with an Australian-made smokey garlic sauce that can be coated on the ribs or served as a dipping sauce. It’s a versatile product that suits most cooking levels – you can char-grill them on the barbeque, quickly air-fry, microwave or bake them.
