Tasmanian Walnuts for Every Course This Christmas
Buy Local Christmas Campaign 2025 – Tasmanian Irrigation

Tasmanians are being urged to add walnuts to their entrees, mains and desserts this Christmas.

Sophie and Brad Milic, from Coaldale Walnuts, said fresh and value-added walnut products, such as pickled, inshell, kernel, flour and oil, can all be incorporated into festive menus.

“Walnuts are such a healthy addition to salads, in the stuffing for turkey, in Christmas puddings, and also in biscuits, pies and even festive baklava,” Sophie said.

“You can also candy walnuts to give as gifts or enjoy our pickled walnuts with your Christmas ham.

“One of our favourite recipes is cherry, chocolate and pickled walnut croissant pudding, where the gentle tartness and warm spice of the pickled walnuts complement the sweetness of the cherries and the richness of the dark chocolate. The recipe for this pudding is on our website.”

Sophie’s parents planted 1,500 walnut trees in 1997 on the banks of the Coal River near Richmond.

Sophie and Brad have since taken over the business, added farm tours, an annual open farm event each May, and are growing the on-farm processing capacity to contract grade, crack and value add for other southern Tasmanian walnut growers.

Key to the success of their business is access to Tasmanian Irrigation water.

They have a 20 megalitre entitlement on the South East Irrigation Scheme Stage One. They have applied to transfer half of this to the new Greater South East Irrigation Scheme (GSEIS), and are looking forward to improved surety, flow rate and water quality.

“The Greater South East Irrigation Scheme is hugely important as we are particularly vulnerable to dry years,” Sophie said.

“We know that high value cropping and horticulture is what the valley really needs. With climate change, we won’t necessarily get less rain, but it will be more sporadic so the likelihood and severity of really dry periods is increasing.

“Without the GESIS, many existing agricultural operations wouldn’t be viable moving forward so this new scheme will give long-term surety to businesses that have and will continue to expand.”

As Vice President of the Coal River Product Association, Sophie has taken a leading role lobbying for the 37,200-megalitre project.

She said the irrigation project will create jobs, enable additional agri-tourism businesses to open, bring more locals and tourists to the region, and give farmers the confidence to expand and value add.

“It’s so important that consumers support local farmers – not only at Christmas but all year round, by buying locally grown produce,” Sophie said.

“I hope as many Tasmanians as possible are crafting their festive menus around what’s in season and can be sourced from local growers.”

For more information about Coaldale Walnuts, to find local stockists or to purchase from their online shop, visit Home - Coaldale Walnuts Tasmania.

For more information about the South East Irrigation Scheme Stage One, please visit South East Stage 1 - Tasmanian Irrigation or the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme Greater South East Irrigation Scheme - Tasmanian Irrigation.