Damian Stephen and Sue Dassler were determined to live off the land and produce their own food.
Sue was a landscape gardener and Damian had a background in the food industry (he has a fascinating food pedigree thanks to his Indo-Portuguese heritage and upbringing in one of the world’s food capitals, Penang). So they certainly had the skills!
They grow lots of quality vegetables but their story really became interesting for us, cheese fans when they bought a herd of River Rhine Italian Buffalo and started looking after them on their new farm of rolling green hills near Mangawhai (which by the way, means ‘stream of the stingray’). They enjoy looking after these sociable creatures and are rewarded with lots of A2 milk, renown for being more digestible for those with a bad reaction to cows’ milk. A2 milk is also full of nutrients of course.
Damian makes the Mangawhai Road Corner Paddock cheese in a factory right next to the buffalo, and he’s enjoyed the journey to becoming an accomplished cheesemaker. They also sell quality fruits and vegetables via a no-spray, organic operation. Their first off-farm sale was to the local supermarket, and they now sell around the neighbourhood, a true artisan operation. Pop in if you’re in the area , they are at the corner of Mangawhai and Waiteitei Rds, Te Arai, entrance on Mangawhai Road, or watch out for their stunning cheeses in our cheese boxes.
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