Food from the farmer online

---

James and Hugh Bowman know their sheep. Now the 6th generation farmers are starting a quiet revolution, bypassing the big supermarkets and delivering fresh meat from the farm gate. Straight to your door - at a fraction of the price.

Amid the green and gold patchwork of the Canola properties - from their property at Young in New South Wales, life is looking decidedly rosy for brothers Jamie and Hugh Bowman and the family's lucky seventh generation farmer.

"Well, I suppose it happened 12 months ago. We sat down at the table. Things were pretty crook in the country and we thought, well, how better can we market our product? And we decided to go straight to the consumer."

By cutting out the middle man, it's a win win situation. Farmers get a fair price and the consumer gets first class meat and a much cheaper price.

With first class service you won't find in any supermarket.

"Well they know where they're getting it from for a start. They can put a face to the product. It's fresh. Comes off from the farm and there's a story behind it as well. And we've got control from the breeding side all the way down to the plate in Sydney and so, if our customers aren't satisfied well they can get us on the phone and say, look we want a little bit less fat or more fat so it's straight direct so we're trying to breed a product that's going to suit that market."

It takes just three days from the time you order to delivery.

Pip Lampie is now a regular customer - so much so, she hasn't bought lamb in a supermarket for months.

"I think because it's a branded product I'm really confident that I am getting that quality. It's got their name all over it so I'm pretty sure they're not going to be selling an inferior product to their customers as that would damage their reputation."

The success of this business, and others which will follow, depends on customer demand - and it's already going gangbusters.

"I make a huge saving on my weekly grocery bill. For that box, $115, and I get half a lamb, so that's a huge saving on what I would pay at the big supermarket chains. It'd be upwards of half price," adds Pip.

While the Bowmans have just started selling lamb to city-slickers in Sydney, other farmers have expanded their businesses thanks to the internet.

Spring Hill Beef offers grainfed, stress-free Angus beef from Bowral in New South Wales' Southern Highlands direct to your door. Operating for the last two years, business has grown tenfold.

Spring Hill Beef sells to the entire East Coast of Australia, now it's branching out to other Australian capitals and even exporting by Christmas.

Further information

For viewers wanting more information about MOPPITY MEATS (sells Lamb) and SPRING HILL BEEF (sells Angus beef):

MOPPITY MEATS - sells lamb to Sydney consumers but are planning to expand according to demand.
CONTACTS: Delivery: Nick: 0449 63 83 57
Email: info@moppitymeats.com.au

FARMERS: JAMES and HUGH BOWMAN
"Tarraganda"
Harden NSW
02 6386 3266
www.moppitymeats.com.au

SPRING HILL BEEF HAMPERS - sells grain fed Angus beef
Please place orders by contacting Jacqui or Simon Philp on 02 4886 4479 or email sphilp@bigpond.net.au or visit www.springhillbeefhamper.com.au

Smaller packs $125 Regular packs $175 - can include gluten free sausages and/or extra mince depending on order.

Also have Spring Hill Farm Stay: www.springhillfarmstay.com.au