Native Foodways is a First Nations owned and led native food social enterprise. A new addition to our roster of stallholders, we had a chat with two of the founders and directors, Jason Glanville, a Wiradjuri Man who lives in Redfern and Lachlan McDaniel, a Wiradjuri Man who lives in Sydney to learn more about their exciting business.
Can you tell us a bit about Native Foodways and the fresh produce you will be selling at the market?
Native Foodways sources fresh native produce from collaborating First Nations farmers wherever possible (like Blak Cede and Bush to Bowl in NSW). When it’s not possible to source from Indigenous farmers, we collaborate with ethical and respectful non-Indigenous farmers who also want to ensure First Nations people drive and benefit from the native food system.
Our fresh produce includes Finger Limes, Native Ginger, Warrigal Greens, Native Basil, Native Mint, Saltbush, Lilly Pilly, Karkala, and many others. Some fresh produce is also dried and sometimes cut, but otherwise kept unprocessed. Unaltered dried produce includes: Lemon Myrtle, Cinnamon Myrtle, Anise Myrtle, Curry Myrtle, Saltbush, Native Thyme, Native Oregano, Native Basil, Native Mint, and Native Sarsaparilla.
In addition to fresh native produce, you will also be selling other products – can you tell us a bit about those options?
Native Foodways works with the best native ingredients to create its own value-added native products in collaboration with First Nations chefs and foodmakers. When it’s not possible to work with First Nations foodmakers, we collaborate with ethical and respectful local chefs and foodmakers to create the finest products. Native food products include Finger Lime Marmalade, Native Ginger Tea, Ginger Beer with Lemon Myrtle with many others in development. We also source native food products from Indigenous foodmakers and collaborators such as IndigiEarth and the Unexpected Guest. Their products include native bars, chocolates, teas, jams, and chutneys.
What makes your business stand out as a First Nations owned and led social enterprise?
Where possible, our native products are grown and harvested by First Nations people, processed and cooked by First Nations people, and marketed and sold by First Nations people. That means when you buy Native Foodways products, First Nations people are benefiting as much as possible.
As First Nations people have been largely excluded from the native food system since colonisation, and as Native Foodways is just at the beginning of our journey, it is not always possible to have First Nations people involved in each step in the value chain. But that is why we exist. To ensure over the coming decades First Nations people can participate in, benefit from, and lead every aspect of the native food system. This will ensure that the growth of the native food industry will be based on First Nations ways of knowing, doing, and being. It will ensure the native food system is more regenerative, culturally respectful, and beneficial for First Peoples. Which means it will be more beneficial for everyone.
What is Native Foodways particularly famous for?
People love our Fresh Finger Limes (April to May) and our Finger Lime Marmalade (all year round!).
People love the fact that we’re deeply committed to community engagement and collaboration. Many of our products have come from years of relationship building with communities. Particularly the communities on the South Coast of NSW where we are based. Our most significant collaboration there is with Waminda, a women’s led Indigenous health service that has a native food and native nursery social enterprise (Blak Cede). People also love that we sell their products – try their Native Rocky Road!
Start a relationship with Indigenous growers, cooks, and communities by buying their products and supporting their meaningful work. You’ll be enabling Indigenous people to practice Culture, heal Country, and nourish Community. You can visit Native Foodways at the Carriageworks Farmers Market every Saturday, 8am – 1pm.