Welcome to our story!

The Iconic Port Willunga Jetty

By the 1860s, Port Willunga had emerged as South Australia’s second-largest port, serving as a vital hub for the transportation of grain and slate. This coastal site, often referred to as the "Coast of Sorrows," has earned a reputation for its notorious shipwrecks, with the most legendary being the wreck of the Star of Greece. Other notable wrecks include the Ida, occasionally visible at low tide during winter, and the Tempest, which in 1914 left a gaping hole in the middle of the jetty. Today, the remnants of the old jetty stand like giant charred matchsticks, a stark reminder of the past.

Port Willunga and the Kaurna people

Port Willunga holds profound significance for the Kaurna Aboriginal people. The land and waterways provided not only nourishment but also carried deep spiritual beliefs and dreaming stories. One such story is the Dreaming of Tjilbruke, an ancestral warrior and law-giver, who mourned the death of his beloved nephew along this very coastline. As Tjilbruke wept, his tears formed freshwater springs, remnants of which can still be found today along the Port Willunga shoreline.

In the present day, Port Willunga Beach is a cherished destination for walking, swimming, fishing, diving, and surfing, as well as a beloved spot for family holidays.

Founder Trish White

Trish White, the master gardener, cook, and founder of Port Willunga Fine Foods, hails from New Zealand, where she was raised in a family deeply committed to growing their own food and hunting and gathering with the seasons. Her childhood was a tapestry of outdoor adventures—fishing off the local swing bridge, chasing crabs on mudflats exposed at low tide, and catching flounders at high tide with a flashlight, bringing fresh, sweet fish to the table. Collecting pipis for bait, and tuatua, periwinkles, and mussels for eating, was part of daily life, and all the yummier for the search.

Ducks, quails, and rabbits were natural parts of her diet, with hunting trips offering special moments in the bush. Seasonal foraging for wild blackberries, plums, crab apples, walnuts, tamarillos, gooseberries, and mushrooms took her across paddocks, swamps, hills and streams with buckets full of treasures proudly brought home. Feijoa, a particular favourite, remains a beloved product of Port Willunga Fine Foods, shared with family tables far and wide.

The family orchard was a constant source of bounty—plums, nectarines, apricots, peaches, and artichokes grown in the chook run. Baking was a household affair, with tins filled with biscuits, slices, and loaves.

The Love Story

Trish was first introduced to Port Willunga in the late 1970s by her future husband, Andrew. Their romance blossomed at university, where Andrew wasted no time in sharing his deep affection for Port Willunga.

In late 1999, Trish co-founded Regional Baskets with her friend Lizzie Strachan, sending South Australian produce from small local producers to all corners of the world. Their gifting expertise led Trish to win a contract to curate and send produce for the Regional Food South Australian Co-operative, a role that allowed her to work with up to 40 small South Australian producers.

Her love for sourcing and cooking beautiful food eventually inspired her to start her own food label. Andrew suggested the name Port Willunga Fine Foods, and thus a new brand was born, one that could be shared with the world.

Family

The love for discovering and sharing delicious treats runs deep in the family. Andrew is hands-on, helping with everything from washing aprons to assembling boxes—though his advice is gently deflected with affection. Hannah, with her artistic talent, has designed the beautiful illustrations of fruits and nuts that grace the packaging, while her husband Bryce proudly wears Port Willunga Fine Foods t-shirts, sometimes when he can't find anything else clean to wear.

The grandchildren—Eve, Della, Otis, and Maximo—are the smallest taste-testers, currently delighting in sun-dried apples and pears, with the promise of toffee to come. Patrick is the pistachio-packaging ninja, though his love for pistachios requires that a box be kept aside just for him. Sam, who spent his student days taping hundreds of boxes together, claims the screech of the box tape machine outside his bedroom door has scarred him for life—but it’s a story he loves to tell, and he’s dearly loved for it. Claudia, the latest addition to the family, eagerly taste-tests all the chocolate.

At Port Willunga Fine Foods, our dedicated team meticulously selects the finest produce to ensure our customers receive only the best. Each product is handmade, hand-packaged, and delivered with care, so it arrives fresh and ready to be enjoyed.

Our fruit and nut offerings are crafted with love, respecting the natural rhythm of the seasons. We cherish the relationships we've built with our local growers and the broader community, embracing the spirit of collaboration that thrives in our beautiful Fleurieu region.

Our finished products reflect the shared vision we hold for our business, with each team member's contribution and brilliance shining through. This collective effort allows our offerings to truly stand out.

The success of Port Willunga Fine Foods is rooted in our unwavering attention to detail, the vision that guides us, the strong community of growers we work with, the passion of our team, and the loyalty of our cherished customers.