A new culinary story is taking root in Gippsland, with a local farm celebrating its milestone inaugural black truffle harvest.
Sale-based Hollyoak Truffles, owned by Laura Considine, recently harvested approximately 10 kilograms of premium black truffles, marking the farm’s first successful producing season since planting nearly 1000 trees on the family property four years ago.
To unearth the prized fungi growing among the tree roots, Ms Considine partnered with Simone Thomas from the Canine Truffle Program, Hunting & Events.
Ms Thomas visited the Sale property several times over the harvesting season with her experienced Belgian Shepherd, Zara, to locate the truffles.
In addition to assisting with this year’s harvest, Ms Thomas is working with the family to train their black Labrador, Luna, to become Hollyoak’s dedicated on-site truffle detection dog.
With the first harvest now complete, Ms Considine has been busy introducing the fresh, locally grown delicacy to the regional hospitality sector, distributing samples to Gippsland businesses ahead of becoming an official commercial supplier next season. Local Sale venues have already embraced the opportunity to showcase the Gippsland-grown produce, with Red Catt and the Criterion Hotel among the first to feature Hollyoak Truffles on their menus.
Looking ahead, Ms Considine plans to expand the business by developing value-added products, including specialty truffle oil and truffle butter.
Long-term plans also include hosting public truffle hunts and exclusive paddock-to-plate lunches and dinners on the property as the business grows.
As the farm’s trees continue to mature in the years ahead, Hollyoak Truffles’ production is projected to scale up significantly, with seasonal yields expected to reach up to 150 kilograms.
