Rural Industries Reasearch and Development Corportation Rural Award Winner 2006
The RIRDC Rural Women’s Award was instigated in 2000 with the objective of increasing women’s capacity to contribute to agriculture and rural Australia, by providing them with the support and resources to further develop their skills and abilities.
Now in its seventh year, the Award is playing a pivotal role in the future sustainability of rural Australia, encouraging rural women and their increased contribution to rural industries. The 2006 Award was won by a Queenslander, Martha Shepherd from the Sunshine Coast.
Martha Shepherd established Galeru – a value added rural enterprise which produces a range of gourmet products from native rainforest fruits – some eight years ago with partner David Haviland.
The fruits come from the 3,000 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.
Martha’s 35 years experience in the food industry, predominantly in the United States, has laid a strong foundation for her venture into a value-added rural enterprise.
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.
Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP and the RIRDC Rurall Women’s Award 2006 Winner Martha Shepherd (QLD)
