Episode summary

Meet the next generation shaping WA’s food future. From innovative young farmers to passionate advocates and creative producers, Kate and Tracey shine a light on emerging voices bringing new energy, ideas and resilience to our local food landscape.

Jake Ryan of Three Ryans Farm in Manjimup Western Australia, brings the passion, innovation, and deep-rooted values that make him essential listening for anybody curious about the future of Western Australia’s food.

Returning home after studying agribusiness, Jake pioneered several regenerative practices on his family’s multigenerational property—becoming one of WA’s first to adopt strip tillage, multi-species cover cropping, holistic grazing, and habitat-enhancing intercropping with flowers.These changes have reduced fuel use by thousands of litres, boosted soil health, lowered pest pressure, and increased biodiversity and yield—all while keeping the farm commercially viable.

Jake’s approach has earned him recognition as a Climate Positive Leader and a finalist in the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards for excellence in diversification.

His story isn’t just about good farming—it’s about proving that you can farm wisely and sustainably, inspiring others across the state to follow suit.

Find Three Ryans Farm
https://www.instagram.com/three_ryans/?hl=en

Stay curious and get involved. We’d love to hear from you - feedback - comments - food stories - the lot! You can find us via all the links below.

Recipe of the week

Little Custard Berry Tarts - using Three Ryans eggs laid by pasture-raised hens

Follow this link to the full recipe - https://mattersoftaste.com.au/blogs/news-and-recipes/little-custard-berry-tarts

The Curious Cooks

Follow us on Instagram @curiouscookspodcast

Reach out and join the conversation thecuriouscookspod@gmail.com

Check out our Curious Cooks webpage Explore future and past conversations and guests.

SPONSOR THANKS

This Podcast is produced and supported by the following sponsors:

SERIES ONE SPONSOR

Urban Forager - Discover Australia’s only certified organic stock concentrate and shop the range today…

Use our Curious Cooks discount code - CURIOUS20 - to receive 20% off at the checkout www.urbanforager.com.au

Kate Flower Food delivers strategically planned and expertly styled visual content

designed to elevate food, product, and lifestyle brands.

Smart, beautiful, marketing, sparking real customer connection and long term results.

Explore the creative services at kateflowerfood.com.au

Matters of Taste Food Discovery Tours are all about connection. From city streets to country backroads, they take you behind the scenes across WA to meet the people growing and making your food. Taste incredible produce, share stories, and join a community of food lovers on one-of-a-kind adventures you’ll never forget.
Explore upcoming tours at mattersoftaste.com.au

Host Information

Kate Flower

Food stylist, recipe developer, and storyteller, Kate has spent over 30 years in the food industry—and the past 15 bringing dishes to life for some of Australia’s most loved brands. From the farm gate to the family table, she’s passionate about the journey of every ingredient, and how understanding that journey changes the way we cook, eat

What we choose to put in our shopping baskets today shapes the future of our food — from variety and quality to health and environmental outcomes.

Matthew Evans joins Kate and Tracey this week on The Curious Cooks, from Fat Pig Farm in Tasmania’s Huon Valley.

What happens when a chef trades stainless steel for soil? 🌿

Matthew Evans’ story is one of transformation: from city kitchens to a thriving farm, from critic to advocate. He’s now one of Australia’s most articulate voices for regenerative farming and food system change.

On The Curious Cooks, Kate and Tracey chat with Matthew about why we must reconnect with where our food comes from — before it’s too late.

Find Matthew Evans and Fat Pig Farm
https://fatpig.farm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fat_pig_farm/

Stay curious and get involved. We’d love to hear from you - feedback - comments - food stories - the lot! You can find us via all the links below.

Recipe of the week

Super delicious Brown Butter Chunky Almond Biscuits

Follow this link to the full recipe - https://mattersoftaste.com.au/blogs/news-and-recipes/brown-butter-chunky-almond-biscuits

Follow us on Instagram @curiouscookspodcast

Reach out and join the conversation thecuriouscookspod@gmail.com

Peruse our Curious Cooks webpage and explore future conversations and guests.

SPONSOR THANKS

This Podcast is produced and supported by the following sponsors

SERIES ONE SPONSOR

Urban Forager - Discover Australia’s only certified organic stock concentrate and shop the range today…

Use our Curious Cooks discount code - CURIOUS20 - to receive 20% off at the checkout www.urbanforager.com.au

Kate Flower Food delivers strategically planned and expertly styled visual content

designed to elevate food, product, and lifestyle brands.

Smart, beautiful, marketing, sparking real customer connection and long term results.

Explore the creative services at kateflowerfood.com.au

Matters of Taste Food Discovery Tours are all about connection. From city streets to country backroads, they take you behind the scenes across WA to meet the people growing and making your food. Taste incredible produce, share stories, and join a community of food lovers on one-of-a-kind adventures you’ll never forget.

Explore upcoming tours at mattersoftaste.com.au

Host Information

Kate Flower

Food stylist, recipe developer, and storyteller, Kate has spent over 30 years in the food industry—and the past 15 bringing dishes to life for some of Australia’s most loved brands. From the farm gate to the family table, she’s passionate about the journey of every ingredient, and how understanding that journey changes the way we cook, eat, and connect.

Kate is the author of three printed cookbooks celebrating local producers under the banner A Local Table and is driven to discover the best ways we can eat for both enjoyment and health.

Instagram @kateflowerfood Facebook @kateflowerfood

What does food security really mean for WA — and why should we care where our milk comes from?
This week on The Curious Cooks, Kate and Tracey sit down with Sue Daubney, Managing Director of Bannister Downs Dairy, to unpack the challenges and triumphs of WA’s dairy industry.

From the realities of running a family farm, to the pressures of imports from the Eastern states, Sue shares her candid thoughts on keeping milk local, sustainable and accessible. We also dive into WA’s broader food supply story — and the small choices we make every day that impact our food future.

Find Sue Daubney and BANNISTER DOWNS DAIRY
https://bannisterdowns.com.au
Instagram: @bannisterdownsdairy

CURIOUS COOKS

Stay curious and get involved. We’d love to hear from you - feedback - comments - food stories - the lot! You can find us via all the links below.

Follow us on Instagram @curiouscookspodcast
Reach out and join the conversation thecuriouscookspod@gmail.com
Find recipes on our Curious Cooks webpage and explore future conversations and guests.

SERIES ONE SPONSORS

URBAN FORAGER - Discover Australia’s only certified organic stock concentrate and shop the range today…

Use our Curious Cooks discount code - CURIOUS20 - to receive 20% off at the checkout www.urbanforager.com.au

KATE FLOWER FOOD delivers strategically planned and expertly styled visual content designed to elevate food, product, and lifestyle brands. Smart, beautiful, marketing, sparking real customer connection and long term results.

Explore the creative services at kateflowerfood.com.au

MATTERS OF TASTE Food Discovery Tours are all about connection. From city streets to country backroads, they take you behind the scenes across WA to meet the people growing and making your food. Taste incredible produce, share stories, and join a community of food lovers on one-of-a-kind adventures you’ll never forget.

Explore upcoming tours at mattersoftaste.com.au

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