Media & Awards |
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 In-Market Experience Scholarship – 2008
Martha Shepherd
Galeru’s Martha Shepherd is one of 10 Australians selected for the New Industries Development Program’s (NIDP) In-Market Experience Scholarship for 2008. This scholarship grant will enable Martha to undertake a study of new fruit processing technologies which she hopes will lead to new exciting applications to our Australian native fruits, and to explore new market opportunities for Galeru’s products in Australia as well as the USA.
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 Sharing the Value
pg 38-40, Supply Chain Review Vol 16, No. 2, March 2007
One specialist producer is challenging the 'get bigger or get out' attitude with an innovative value chain model.
As Chairperson of Galeru, specialists in gourmet native fruit products, Marth Shepherd is putting her research into practice, working within a value chain of four independdent producers in Queenslad and northern New South Wales to create a sustainable agribusiness model.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Innovator in Residence for 2007
Martha Shepherd
Galeru’s Martha Shepherd has been appointed Innovator in Residence for 2007 by the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation – Queensland (CRRI-Q), a partnership of the University of Queensland, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Dept of Primary Industries and Fisheries. This prestigious appointment will enable Martha to continue to pursue her vision for sustainable agriculture by small specialist producers, assisting in the development of projects involving agribusiness value chains and other important cutting edge strategies.
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- ABC Landline 3 December 2006
Unlikely beginnings for rural award recipient
"When American business executive Martha Shepherd moved to Australia 13 years ago she had no intention of becoming a farmer. That all changed, however, when she enrolled in a TAFE class to learn more about her adopted home's trees and fell in love with the fruits of the lilly pilly tree. The business she went on to build around these bush fruits won her this year's Rural Woman of the Year award. "
Read the program summary at www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1801968.htm
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QLD Homes Magazine, Summer 2006
Food Bites, pgs 211-212
"Looking through our summer dinner party you may have noticed that the recipes include some unusual ingredients - all Queensland produce, and all definitely delicious."
Picture of Raincherry & White Peach Summer Pudding at left.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Winner – Queensland & Australian RIRDC Rural Women’s Award 2006
Martha Shepherd
Martha Shepherd established Galeru some eight years ago with partner David Haviland, a value added rural enterprise which produces a range of gourmet products from native rainforest fruits.
The fruits come from the 2,000 plus native trees that Martha and David planted on their small farm in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The trees were purpose grown as a high value niche crop, with the farm developed to be an environmentally sustainable and commercially competitive enterprise.
click to show rest of article
Martha’s 35 years experience in the food industry, predominantly in the United States, in particular her work as Director of International Operations with Mrs Fields Famous Brands has laid a strong foundation for her venture into a value added rural enterprise. Her work with Mrs Fields involved managing the company’s international franchise network in 37 countries, along with new product research and the development and production of bakery, frozen desserts and confectionary products.
Martha’s proposal is to develop a viable value chain management model, through which smaller producers can collaborate with regional processors to produce the quality and quantity of product necessary to ensure both economic and environmental viability for their businesses.
Her proposal was borne out of her experiences as a successful small producer, frustrated by the wide range of opportunities to sell her product, but constrained by the scale of her farm. With other small farms in the region beginning to plant these native species, Martha was challenged to develop a business model by which several small producers can optimize their returns.
Martha has undertaken a study of established and successful value chain organizations, and begun the process of setting up the new business with other prospective chain participants within her region.
She believes the value chain model, if proven successful, holds major implications for small producers across rural industries and the possibility of a solution to one of primary industries impending and major problems, that of the efficient use of small parcels of productive rural land. |
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 Memento Australia Award
Galeru was recognised with a Distinction at the 2006 Memento Australia Awards for the ‘Rainforest Fruit Sauces Gift Box’ announced on 12 September. Of the many hundreds of entries in the 2006 awards, Galeru’s Gift Box was the ONLY food product deemed to meet the rigorous design and other award criteria.
Judges comments: “Smart and innovative idea…great tasting product…clever use of packaging for the serving suggestions and very saleable…”
The Memento Awards were launched 8 years ago to promote and recognise authentic and innovative products which are suitable as a memento or gift of Australia. The criteria for the awards require that items be compact, lightweight and portable, and express wit, freshness, originality and reflect the character and spirit of a region within Australia.
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 Bronze Medal Sydney Royal Fine Foods Show 2006
Galeru was recognised with a Bronze for its Rainberries™, ready-to-use rainforest fruit sauce. This unique product from Galeru’s native Syzygium leuhmannii orchards adds an amazing new flavour to sweet and savoury dishes.
Judges comments: “Rainberries…were standouts for innovation” |
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- Just Desserts - Enterprising Women in Rural Industries
Trade Show 2006
 Martha Shepherd worked in the food industry in the United States for 35 years. In 1997, she established Galeru with her
partner David Haviland. The business produces fruit sauces and gourmet baked goods using unique raincherries™ and rainberries™ harvested from native rainforest trees grown on their small 11 acre property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The fruit is extremely versatile. Stir through your favourite yoghurt or top a cheesecake or decadent chocolate dessert, for a sharp, sweet taste. Drizzle some on brie or camembert, when serving wine and cheese.
Galeru rainforest fruits are available in Brisbane at Rosalie Gourmet Market and you can find raincherries on the menu at Baguette at Ascot.
Meet Martha at the Trade Show in October.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Rural Women's Awards - Best in the land
pg 78, Womens Weekly, June 2006
Martha Shepherd Rainforest fruit grower, Cooroy, Queensland. After 35 years in the international food industry, Martha Shepherd was tired of travel, stress and seeing more hotels than her own home. She wanted a change.
"We both love the idea of small-scale farming, but we knew we needed to be able to make a living from it," Martha explains. Yet, unlike so many mid-life seachangers who plunge romantically into the unknown, Martha, 55, and her partner, actor and musician David Haviland, 66m did painstaking research before tossing in their careers for a new life.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Cakes from the rainforest
pg 49, Global Food and Wine, 2nd Quarter 2005
It's often hard to stand out at a trade show - so many producers with so many eye-catching banners, products and, sometimes, gimmicks. But in the end one company often catches your eye above all the others. At the recent Enterprising Women trade show in Brisbane, that company was confectioner, Galeru.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Women of Influence
pg 4, Landmark property, August-September 2006
Despite the gender imbalance in agricultural decision making positions, there is no shortage of brilliant women helping to make a difference.
When American born Martha Shepherd was jetting around the world in her role as Director of International Operations for a famous US based franchise, she never dreamed she would one day become Australia's Rural Women of the Year.
Thirteen years afer arriving here, Martha has attained that honour for her work in developing a model for sustainable use of small parcels of farmland on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 In the garden of Galeru...
pg 20 -22, Blue's Country Magazine, July 2006
With the continuing drought hitting agriculture hard, horticulture is climbing out of its big brother's shadow - with growers applying some fresh and innovative ideas.
click to view full article [pdf]
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 Growing a value chain from Rainforest Fruits
pg 12 -13, Contours, September 2006
Ten years ago Martha Shepherd had not heard of the crops she now grows – crops that put her on the path to win the first national Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award last May.
Martha, along with her partner David Haviland, grows native rainforest fruit that thrives on their small farm, Galeru, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The farm’s success and the interest it generated among regional property owners led Martha to enter the awards as a way to finance the development of a business model that could enable several small growers and processors to collaborate for the greatest benefit.
The value chain model works when primary producers look at the end products consumers buy, and find ways to maximise the value of their crop through the production process.
“The model assumes cooperation but doesn’t dictate what structure should be used, so it remains flexible to maximise value and minimise costs,” Martha said.
click to view full article [pdf]
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- Sunshine Coast Businesswoman takes State Award
 A businesswoman from the Sunshine Coast, aiming to assist other producers on small farms to join forces in an innovative way to value-add and market their products, is the 2006 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award winner.
Martha Shepherd established Galeru in 1997 with her partner David Haviland. Galeru produces unique fruit sauces, yoghurt and gourmet bakery products made from native Australian rainforest fruits grown on their small acreage in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The winner was announced tonight by the Director General for Primary Industries and Fisheries Jim Varghese, at a presentation ceremony at Parliament House, on behalf of Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin. click to show rest of article
Ms Shepherd plans to use the $10,000 bursary to develop a value chain management model that will enable producers and regional processors on the Sunshine Coast to collaborate and maximise returns for their businesses.
She believes this will contribute to the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of small farms in the region.
As winner, Ms Shepherd will also attend the prestigious Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in Canberra and be in the running to be named the first ever national winner of the Award.
Ann Radke, who owns Yuruga Nursery in far north Queensland, was named runner-up.
Yuruga is one of the largest private employers on the Atherton Tablelands.
Mrs Radke’s concern for the future sustainability of Australia’s agriculture and forestry industries led her to establish, Clonal Solutions Australia Pty Ltd specialising in the mass production of high-value clonal crops.
Clonal forestry provides industry with the technology to obtain increased yields from existing plantations. This in turn protects native forests from the pressures of timber demand and plantation expansion.
The runner-up will also take part in the Australian Institute of Company Directors course in Canberra in May.
Mr Varghese paid tribute to an extremely talented group of five finalists.
“I would like to congratulate Martha and Ann, both passionate and visionary women who are making tremendous contributions to sustainable agriculture in Queensland,” Mr Varghese said.
“The calibre of women who were in the running for this award is evidence of not just the talent, but of the role women play as equal partners in the prosperity of this state’s primary industries.’’
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries sponsors and coordinates the annual RIRDC Rural Women's Award in Queensland, which celebrates the valuable contribution women make to Australian agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related industries.
The Award provides an opportunity for women to develop an innovative project that will not only contribute to the development of their own skills and knowledge but also benefit their industries and rural and regional communities.
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