Innovation and quality: The driving forces behind Daly Farms Tasmania
Ruby Daly, the Business Manager at Daly Farms Tasmania, is highly passionate and often at the forefront of innovation in agriculture. As fresh market potato growers, the Daly family has expanded their operations over the years to include potato vodka distilling and food manufacturing, producing potato salads, mash, and roasted potatoes under different brands. The World Potato Congress in Adelaide earlier this year was a welcome opportunity for us to catch up, away from the potato fields. For many others, it was an exciting opportunity to hear Ruby share the Daly Farms story.
Champions of innovation
"Innovation is 100% what drives us," Ruby explained.
For the Dalys, innovation isn't just about creating new products—it's about finding ways to maximise their harvest and reduce waste - making MIRAVIS® fungicide a valuable product among their various strategies to preserve tuber quality.
"It costs us the same amount to grow first grade as a second grade [potato],” she said.
“It's really disappointing when you have to waste that second grade because there's no market.”
Their innovative approach allows them to find better markets for second-grade potatoes, turning potential waste into valuable products.
The importance of people and relationships
The Dalys’ value relationships and networking, seeing these connections as opportunities to learn and improve their operations. Ruby emphasises that people are crucial to their success.
"Our team, the people that we work with, the mentors have been critical to us and helping us grow our business," she said.
Recognition and support
Daly Farms Tasmania is no stranger to accolades, being previous winners of the Kondinin Group and ABC Rural, Australian Farmer of the Year Award. Ruby was also nominated for a sustainability prize in the Syngenta Growth Awards, a recognition that acknowledges their dedication.
“When you are nominated, it kind of validates everything that you do," she said. This nomination allowed the family-focused team to celebrate their achievements.
Ruby also highlights the value Syngenta brings to their business. "They've allowed us to grow with [Syngenta]. They've supported us with products. They're always looking for new ways to help us be better potato farmers," she explained.
The Tasmanian advantage
Being based in Tasmania is integral to the Daly Farms brand. "We support the adage that if it comes out of Tasmania, it’s good quality. It's real people, made in a real good place," Ruby said. However, she acknowledges the challenges of operating in Tasmania, including isolation and higher freight costs. These challenges push them to excel: "We have to be good growers. We have to be [cost] competitive to be able to compete."
The value of networking
The Daly's prioritise attending networking events, despite how challenging it can be to step out of the business for even a day. Ruby sees these opportunities as critical for their growth and development. "It allows us to know we are actually in this game we're playing, we're with the players and we have a space that we can share our experiences, our challenges and hopefully learn to bring back to the farm," she said.
For Daly Farms Tasmania, innovation, quality, and relationships are the key ingredients in their recipe for success. By embracing these principles, they continue to grow their business and contribute to Tasmania's reputation for excellence in agriculture.
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