Straightforward Provenance

Honest paddock origins on your plate

Supermarket packaging shouldn't require detective work. We map everyday pantry staples and wardrobe fibres straight back to the Australian soil where they started.

Grown Here was inspired by a need. Australian farmers are finding it harder and harder to connect with the end consumer of their product. As the disconnect between farmers and consumers grows, Aussies have less reason to choose 'Australian' at the supermarket.

This website has grown from the need for real farmers to connect with Aussie consumers in order for their farms, their communities and their industries to survive. The media is littered with too many stories of industries disappearing or shrinking and, too often, Aussie grown produce is being overlooked for imports.

The farmers behind this website have been hit hard by the downturn in the Australian peanut industry, as outlined on ABC Landline recently, which has come at a huge cost to hard working farmers in regional communities, like the Wide Bay, Burnett and Atherton Tablelands throughout Queensland. These hardworking men and women have red soil in their veins and are proud to grow some of the best peanuts in the world.

Sadly, imported peanuts are driving these farmers out of peanut growing and as farms slow down, so do the regional towns that rely on farming.

a close up of a green plant with leaves
a close up of a green plant with leaves

Honest brands, happy farmers

Grocery aisles are flooded with confusing percentage bars and fine-print disclaimers that obscure where ingredients originate. We built Grown Here to give busy shoppers instant clarity on pantry goods without corporate spin.

Supermarket packaging shouldn't require detective work. We map everyday pantry staples and wardrobe fibres straight back to the Australian soil where they started.

You might be surprised to learn that a food product can be labelled Made in Australia even if all its ingredients were imported.

That's because where a product is made and where its ingredients were grown are two different things.

For example, peanut butter manufactured in Australia using imported peanuts may qualify for a Made in Australia claim, even though the peanuts were grown overseas.

So how can you tell? Visit the Australian Made website for details but here's a quick summary:-

Australian Made: Tells you where the product underwent its last substantial transformation. It doesn't necessarily tell you where the ingredients were grown.

Australian Grown: Indicates that all significant ingredients were grown in Australia and all or nearly all processing occurred here.

Product of Australia: Indicates that all significant ingredients originated in Australia and all or nearly all processing occurred here.

Australian ingredient percentage: THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT! On packaged food, look for the bar chart and percentage showing how much of the product's ingredients are Australian. A label can use the familiar green and gold kangaroo logo and say "Made in Australia" but underneath is the bar chart showing is has very few actual Australian grown ingredients (eg "Made in Australia with less than 10% Australian ingredients").

Be aware of products with a high water content claiming a high percentage of Australian ingredients. Often that percentage is referring to the water being Australian eg ("Made in Australia with 89% Australian ingredients" but the only thing Australian in the food/drink is water). Farmers have warned consumers to be aware of this food labelling loophole allowing imported ingredients to appear Australian.

At Grown Here, we're interested in something more than where a product was manufactured.

We want to help you brands that use Australian-grown ingredients — and help you meet the farmers who grow them.

Buying products made with Australian-grown ingredients supports more than local manufacturing. It also helps supports Australian farming, regional businesses and the communities that depend on them.

Don't just look for where it's made. Look for where it's grown.

"Australian Made" doesn't always mean Australian Grown

Soil to Shelf

Sunshine, red dirt, honest harvest

We champion regional food and fibre makers through transparent paddock origins, celebrating good farming without complicated paperwork puzzles or supermarket confusion.

Grow the Directory

Nominate a local maker

Know an outstanding regional honey producer, olive press, or local merino knitwear studio? Share their details and growing region so we can feature their harvest in our directory.