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Tarzali Lakes Fishing Park's slippery road to success PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 24 September 2010

Tarzali Lakes Fishing Park's slippery road to success

Cairns Post 22nd September 2010
By Jennifer Eliot

 

TARZALI Lakes Fishing Park is on the brink of cracking the lucrative Chinese eel market and it's also seeking an investor to capitalise on its diverse and expanding operation.

Owner Peter Whiddett told Business Week the company had been knocked around badly by cyclone Larry but it had emerged optimistic about its future tourism, value added products and export potential.

Within weeks, a trial to grow out eels, kick-started two years ago, comes to a head when the company undertakes its first harvest.

It plans to leap into its slice of a world 800 tonne demand for eels.

"The demand is currently outstripping supply," he said.

"And the reason for this is that you can grow them in captivity but you cannot breed them in captivity and the industry is reliant on wild stocks.

"It's still a bit of an unknown but two years ago we got 300kg of eels the size and thickness of a pencil, with some as small as the pencil lead, and they are not ready to harvest."

The eels have been grown out in ponds although predatation at the organic park is expected to reduce the crop.

At this stage, the company is unsure of exactly how many eels have survived.

Mr Whiddett said, however, the company was expecting a decent harvest and was confident of securing prices of about $22-$50 a kg for the live eels.

The shift towards eel exports follows the company's decision to move into value added products and its smoking operation is now in full swing and is proving to be a huge success.

Mr Whiddett said the company now had 52 product lines of smoked products and crocodile jerky and it was also working on a vegetable jerky to cater for vegetarians.

"There is so much potential out there," he said.

"And having survived cyclone Larry we are really optimistic about the future.

"Now we need an investor to take us to the next level."

 © The Cairns Post

Read more about investing in Tarzali Lakes in our Investment section

 
Tarzali Lakes in the Outback Magazine PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
There was a good article on the farm printed in the August 2010 edition of the Outback Magazine.
 
Iron Chef Champion visits Tarzali Lakes PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 07 April 2010

 Tarzali Lakes was proud to welcome on the 1st of April 2010 three times Iron Chef champion Wong Wing Chee and his entourage.

Wong Wing Chee is renowned as one of China's top 10 chefs and is in Australia to get a taste of the quintessential Queensland lifestyle which is being captured by a film crew for his television show Admiral's Feast.

Admiral's Feast is a popular television program in Hong Kong and his visit will enable Queensland to bring a slice of our state’s abundant gastronomic products to his avid audience back home.

During his visit to Tarzali Lakes, Wong Wing Chee toured the aquaculture facility and tried his hand at fishing, landing Barramundi, Jade Perch, Eels and Redclaw. He then proceeded to cook up a storm which he gracefully invited all to share his culinary delights.

 Three Times Iron Chef Champion Wong Wing Chee enjoying his freshly cooked catch

 
Radio: The art of Eel Farming PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Radio: The Art of Eel Farming

ABC Radio - Queensland Country Hour
Interview with farm manager Peter Whiddett
By Adam Stephen
Tuesday, 16/03/2010

Download the Audio

 
September 2009 Market Report PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 29 September 2009

The September 2009 Market Report

(Not the stock market but the Farmgate Market)

We have been attending the Farmgate Markets at the Pier in Cairns every Saturday morning and have found it quite enjoyable. It has been encouraging to see people take an interest in our smoked products and live Redclaw.  The feedback from customers has been helpful in allowing to fine tune our product lines to the benefit of our new and repeat customers.

Dave (Smokehouse Master) and Pete (General Manager and Aquaculturist) have been alternating the weekly stall operations with some young enthusiastic helpers, Rani, Dillon, Ben and Sean.

A special thanks must go to one of our regular customers, Kathy Fry, who has been kind to share her superb smoked chicken salad recipe with us, This is a “ripper” and if you are having visitors that you want to impress by presenting a gourmet delight with very little fuss,  just follow her easy and simple recipe.

Another recipe from Martin, a Pier Farmgate regular  who lives in Cairns, is the Tarzali Chicken Pastrami Salad with Strawberry Dressing. Martin recommends this dish as an ideal entree.

I tell you what folks, with friends like this we could be well on our way to printing the Tarzali Smokehouse cookbook in no time!

 

 

 
SMH (August 9, 2009) PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Our smokehouse features in the Sydney Morning Herald Travel pages.

From the article by Mal Chenu on August 9, 2009

"And what better place to start than the local markets. I am staying at the superb Shangri-La Hotel on the Cairns pier and the Farmgate Market, which comes to the pier every Saturday, is in the same complex. As it happens, Mehigan is coming here too, so it must be worth a look. When I arrive, the place is full of locals and tourists hunting for something yummy to go with the Coral Sea views.

The Tarzali Lakes Smokehouse stall is doing a roaring trade, knocking out all manner of smoked meats including boar and water buffalo. Dave Hoffman is a third-generation butcher who has smoked more stuff than Bob Marley and his fresh bushman sausages are renowned in these parts.

If you prefer your smoked eel with lemon myrtle, this is the place for you. Other tempting morsels include chicken pastrami in mountain peppers and that perennial favourite, smoked pressed tongue. Gary's gonna love it here."

If you wish to read the entire article, please click here.

 

 

 
Spring is near! (August 2009) PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
With springtime just around the corner, things are looking great at the Lakes. A good number of the Barramundi in the settlement ponds are well over 30cm now and they should get serious about feeding again as it warms up. Anthony has been keeping a good watch on them and believes anglers should be hooking up with some 60 & 70cm rippers early next year if not before!

Eels are growing well with some good shooter specimens big enough for the Smokehouse already.

Smokehouse sales are steadily increasing with quite a few return customers. The Farmgate Markets are fast establishing Tarzali Smokehouse as a Tableland icon with Pete and Dave doing their bit, ably assisted by Paul's two sons Ben and Sean.

At the moment the Smokehouse is producing 15 consistant lines and we are having a great time trialing new products such as crocodile, smoked ribs and Thai fishcakes.

Platypus are very active at the moment and it has been great to see one of our long term residents ,Cassie the platypus, who can be seen frolicking from the Smokehouse Cafe. Platypus tours are now regularly leave at 11:00am, 2:00pm and 3:30pm.

It has also been a lovely dry season for campers at the farm. Visitors seem to be finding us from all corners of the world. A combination of word of mouth recommendation and internet seem to be working wonders!


        Dave Hoffman
    Smokehouse Master

 
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