Know Your Producer: Lalla Valley Farm

13 Oct 26By Launnie Team

Across Northern Tasmania, growers and producers are cultivating the ingredients that help define Launceston’s reputation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. At Lalla Valley Farm, Rowan and Lauren are doing just that, producing garlic and lamb for local customers while helping strengthen the connections between the people who grow food and the people who enjoy it.

Just outside Launceston, the farm is known for its garlic, paddock-raised lamb and seasonal Christmas trees. While the Christmas tree enterprise has become a popular tradition for many local families, food production remains at the heart of the business and its contribution to the region’s food culture.

Each year, between 10,000 and 15,000 bulbs of garlic leave the farm and make their way into homes across Northern Tasmania through retailers including Alps & Amici, Grain Grocer, Charles Street Grocer, Eumarrah, as well as local produce boxes distributed by Karoolalla.

For Rowan, selling produce locally has always been central to the farm's purpose.

That commitment to local food is reflected not only in where the farm's produce ends up, but in how it is grown.

At Lalla Valley Farm, quality starts in the soil.

Rowan and Lauren are dedicated to farming practices that support healthy soils, resilient crops and quality produce. The farm does not use herbicides, pesticides or fungicides, instead relying on biological processes, cover crops and careful land management.

Rather than defining the farm through labels such as organic or regenerative, Rowan prefers to be open about the practices used and let customers make informed decisions for themselves.

"People are more happy with a transparent farming operation and knowing you, rather than a certification body,"

For Rowan, transparency allows customers to better understand how their food is produced and creates a stronger connection between the producer and the community.

The same focus on quality influences what the farm produces. Lalla Valley grows two garlic varieties, Dunganski and Tas Purple, selected for their flavour, quality and suitability to Tasmanian growing conditions.

Rather than expanding production as much as possible, Rowan is focused on creating value through quality. Handcrafted garlic braids have become popular seasonal gifts, while plans are underway to explore black garlic, a premium fermented product known for its rich, complex flavour.

"Instead of growing more volume, we're trying to grow more value."

It's a philosophy that reflects a broader trend among producers who are choosing to create distinctive regional products rather than competing solely on scale.

That approach extends beyond the garlic crop. Sheep play an important role in the farm's broader system, helping manage pasture while supporting soil health. Rotational grazing encourages pasture recovery, while creek lines have been fenced to protect waterways and revegetation projects continue across the property.

For Rowan and Lauren, producing quality food means caring for the landscape that produces it.

For many customers, the attraction of local food extends beyond flavour alone. It is also about connection. Whether purchasing garlic through a local retailer or ordering lamb directly from the farm, people increasingly want to understand where their food comes from and who produced it.

"People know what we're up to. They know where their money's going," Rowan says.

That openness has helped build a loyal customer base while creating opportunities for conversations about food, farming and the realities of producing quality ingredients.

Launceston’s food story begins long before ingredients reach restaurant kitchens, café tables or family homes. It starts with the growers, producers and farming families working across Northern Tasmania to cultivate exceptional local food.

Through a focus on soil health, flavour, transparency and local connections, Lalla Valley Farm is helping shape a food culture that values not only quality produce, but the people behind it.

As one of many producers supplying local retailers, food businesses and households, the farm is part of the network of growers helping make Launceston a place where great food begins at the source.