Earlier in April, a spot-test by consumer watchdog CHOICE found that 7 out of 12 popular dried oregano products contained less than 50% oregano leaves, with some having as little as 10% of the herb.
“Shockingly, the results of a unique screening test for oregano adulteration showed that of the 12 samples, only five were 100% oregano,” the CHOICE report says.
“The other seven – from brands Master of Spices, Hoyt's, Stonemill (Aldi), Spice & Co, Menora, Spencers and G Fresh – contained ingredients other than oregano, including olive leaves (in all seven samples) and sumac leaves (in two samples).”
The report has received widespread media attention and increased interest in the Australian herb industry. According to a Retail World Annual Report, Australians spent $115 million on herbs and spices in 2015, as more people explore different flavours and styles of cooking.
But there is a big difference between dried and fresh herbs in Australia, in terms of both growing regions and demand.
“With dried herbs, I’d say it’d be 95% imported,” Holla-Fresh manager Ian Lines says.
“It’s not economically viable for Australian herb growers [to produce dried herbs], we just can’t compete with the labour costs of other countries.”
Holla-Fresh is one of the largest controlled environment herb producers in the country, with about 3.8 hectares of herbs in its South Australian-based greenhouses.
“We grow and sell all the major fresh lines of herbs, so basil, coriander, chives, mint, baby spinach, parsley, thyme, sage, the list goes on,” he says.
“They’re all supplied to major supermarkets and independents in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Victoria throughout the year.”
While there has been predictions that the fresh herb industry is growing, Mr Lines says it’s currently holding steady.
“At this stage I don’t see it as an expanding business, it’s just about steady at moment,” he says.
“Some supermarkets tell me it’s expanding, but everyone I speak to in the fresh herb industry says they’re not seeing any more sales.”
While sales are holding at their current levels, he says some herbs are clear front-runners with consumers.
“Coriander is certainly the most popular at the moment, it’s probably been that way for five years now,” he says.
For more information:
Ian Lines
Holla-Fresh Pty Ltd
Phone: 08 8734 4223
Email: admin@holla-fresh.com.au
www.holla-fresh.com.au