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After that initial success the awards rolled in - for various cheeses and yoghurts but   perhaps even more significantly for the expertise, initiative and sheer hard work that Helmut and Ulli Spranz have put into their picturesque biodynamic farm at Meadows, South Australia.

With many awards to her credit - multiple Premier’s Food and Fibre Awards, Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board Food Awards, a SA Great Regional Award and special mentions, receiving the Asian Pacific Woman of Distinction Award in 2007 and being a finalist in the Telstra Women of the Year Award (from a pool of 4000+) - Ulli has most recently been awarded the 2010 Rural Industries and Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) South Australian Rural Women’s Award.  The award recognises the vital role women play in contributing to rural South Australia.

To help Ulli in her quest to make organic/ biodynamic education more easily available, a $10 thousand dollar bursary was given to her courtesy of RIRDC.

“Ulli is truly an inspiration to all rural women and a great pioneer for our State,” says SA Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Gail Gago. “Her dairy products have become a household name and she is passionate about working with farmers to develop South Australia’s biodynamic industry and promote the state’s clean green image.”

As well as complying with the rigorous requirements of biodynamic production, all B.-d. Farm Paris Creek’s waste water is converted through a recycling plant and re-used as irrigation water on the farm; all waste is recycled one way or the other, protecting the environment and adding to the overall value of the operation.

Ulli’s goal was always to grow the organic and BD industry to a level where it could supply certified organic and biodynamic dairy produce to major retailers, making all the dairy products that a family needs on their table available Australia-wide and at an affordable price.

“We still work with independent stores and health food shops – and we love the passion of all these stores –but by also supplying supermarkets we reach customers who would never otherwise find organic and BD,” Ulli says.

B.-d. Farm Paris Creek sources milk for their products from a pool of local SA dairy farmers they have helped to nurture through the conversion to organic. Their range of products includes hard cheeses (Gouda, Tilsit, Cheddar, Norwegino) and soft cheeses (such as Com’n Bear, Nuage Blanc and Brie). Yoghurt varieties are made without thickeners and include a new, richer and creamy ‘Indulgence Range’. The company also produces un-salted butter, flavoured milks, white milks and quark-cottage cheese.

“We can support and assist farmers locally who are interested in BD through the first few years of their production, which is a learning curve for them – and we can also make sure farmers who make the effort to convert have a market through us,” says Ulli.

“We want to make sure dairy farming is seen in this area as a viable option. If children see their parents doing well, they might see a career opportunity in farming rather than seeing it as a burden. If a farmer wants to convert to BD and deliver us milk, we’ll endeavour to find a use for their product.

“Winning this latest award I see as a win for the biodynamic and organic farming industry.”

For more information visit: http://www.bdfarmpariscreek.com.au/

Media contacts; Ulli Spranz 08 8388 3339: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jan Nary: Ph: +61 (0)7 3350 5716 ext. 275