After eight years of selling their dairy products direct to the public through markets, Mahlah and Kel Grey of The Pines Kiama have opened their own shop on Collins St.

“We wanted a space for people to come and buy throughout the week, but still have the experience of talking to people who understand the product,” says Mahlah Grey.

“Ultimately we would really love to have something up at the farm, but that isn’t possible at the moment so this is the next best thing.

“We saw this space in the Terrace Houses a year ago, and loved it so much we bought the shop so we would have a permanent home in town.”

Apart from The Pines’ gelato, cheese, yoghurt and milk, The Pines Pantry will stock a wide range of complementary produce from other local and regenerative farmers.

“We have good networks of producer friends,” says Mahlah.

“We not only love their produce, but the things they are doing on their farm.

“We want to be able to tell the story of every product on the shelves – understanding where food comes from, who produces it and why that should matter is at the heart of what we do.”

Bringing local gelato into town

Apart from sheeps cheese from Pecora Dairy and goats cheese and other products from Buena Vista Farm, there will be market garden produce from the new Jamberoo growers, jams and preserves from Berrima, lamb and pork from Milton, olive oil and figs from Canowindra, and more.

The cheese cabinet will also include offerings from small scale farmhouse cheesemakers further afield, including Tasmania and South Australia.

“They are producers we know personally – we’ve visited their farm or have an ongoing relationship with them,” says Mahlah.

“You can’t generally get their products anywhere out of Sydney or their local network.”

The goods on sale won’t be limited to food, with the Greys open to new ideas.

“We already have some beautiful pottery and soaps made with our milk and local honey,” says Mahlah.

“We want to encourage other embryo producers. If it tells a story and fits in with our philosophy we will consider it.”

Part of that philosophy is a commitment to sustainability, which will see The Pantry running on energy produced up at their Saddleback Mountain farm.

After the summer rush, there are plans to hold a series of producer events, where people who are interested can do tastings and find out more about how the products are produced.

26 Collins St, Kiama

10-5pm Mon to Thurs; 10-9pm Friday and Saturday; 10-3pm Sundays