You will find McLaren Vale Orchards & Miss Merbein at the Willunga Farmers Market every Saturday

Product line: apples, pears, apple and pear juice, cherries, stone fruit, raspberries, tomatoes, figs, pistachios, dried fruit, walnuts, fruit cakes, jams, quinces, pomegranates, pecans

Mark McCarthy is a fifth generation farmer whose father was the first to grow pistachios in Australia. Together with his wife Lisa McCarthy they run Miss Merbein, on the River Murray, and McLaren Vale Orchards where they also reside.

Miss Merbein was originally a guest stall at the Market as its produce is not readily available on the Fleurieu. Since buying McLaren Vale Orchards the combined business now meets the Willunga Farmers Market’s 100 points eligibility score with their local fruit being the bulk of the business.

Miss Merbein’s crops include figs, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, quinces, pomegranates, currants, sun muscats and sultanas – available fresh or sun dried without the use of sulphur.

The sirora pistachios are sweet and unbleached. For the first two months off the tree (February and March) they are sold fresh then dried to last longer. The salted ones use sea salt.

The zante currants are sweeter than the old-fashioned currant. And the seedless sun muscat sultana has a muscatel flavour. It is available fresh and dried, loose or on the stem with dried ones perfect for cheese platters.

Both farms use minimal sprays and McLaren Vale Orchards, surrounded by biodynamic farms, will set aside some land for biodynamic conversion in the future.

McLaren Vale Orchards has grown with its strong presence at farmers markets. Plantings are geared towards filling demand from market shoppers which has led to more pink lady, fuji, gala, and mutsu apples, plus extra cherries and other stone fruit. McLaren Vale Orchards now stock 11 varieties of apple, six of pears, four of peaches and nectarines, three of apricots and two of plums. The cherries are the stella variety and raspberries are heritage.

The apples and pears are washed, not waxed or sprayed to look shiny.

Fruit cakes are available at Christmas, the fig jam is thick and tasty, and chocolate glace figs using Belgian callebaut chocolate are outstanding.

Miss Merbein and McLaren Vale Orchards also sell at the Victor Harbor and Adelaide Showground Farmers Markets and the Goolwa and Stirling Markets.

Contact:
McLaren Vale Orchards & Miss Merbein
Farm gate sales are available in McLaren Vale, corner of Sand and Hunt Rd; look for the A frame at the bottom of the driveway. Open 7 days a week.
P: 08 8323 7711 
F: 08 8323 7317
M: 0418 562 919 
E: maccalisa(at)gmail.com