Farm Gate Truffle Sales NOW CLOSED

2023 Season is Over,
Farmgate is currently by appointment only for frozen truffle

Check Google Map listing for any additional days/hours, last minute changes, it will always be up to date.

Click for GOOGLE MAP AND CURRENT FARM GATE HOURS 

Open hours and days may be adjusted according to demand

To save a click, the usual hours for July, August are;

• WEEKEND AFTERNOONS 2-5:30PM
• Thursday 4-7PM
• FarmGate ordering/reservation is possible, you can arrange a collection appointment preferably early morning or late afternoon

Peak Season, there is primarily A-grade available

• lower grades depend on weather and harvest, (few, if any people choose a cheaper grade anyhow)
• we try to nurture them all to their best, leave them until they are fully ripe, and accept the higher losses that come with that method

A-Grade FRESH Truffle

We grade on quality of flavour & aroma, you can buy any shape you like.

• As a guide, 3-5grams per person, per dish;

Indicative prices,

• >20g, ~$3.20 per gram during July/August
  
  
• Lower quality grades priced accordingly on day as available
• Eg. B Grade (Better) ~$2.50
• C (Cheap) ~$1.50-$2.00
• E (Economy, like typical interstate offerings) from ~$1
• you may be able to grab a perfectly round, unblemished, "extra class" E grade with faint aroma and some flavour, like often found in city retail markets,
• but 99% come to farmgate to buy the best. Truffle is all about flavour and aroma.

• {Understandably, if you are travelling a long distance, a quick availability/reservation question via text a day or two prior can be answered during the evening after farm work}
  
  

Covid Measures

• We sell in a heated, outdoor sheltered area, masks are currently optional.
• due to the nature of truffle aroma, constant fresh air is preferable for judging quality anyhow
• Please only handle your final purchase when invited, The main method of choosing your truffles is by aroma and desired size (how many serves, what food etc. or desired spend).
• Cash sales preferred, it's simpler and faster for us, and price is rounded down.
• Card and debit processing available via Square

Early-Truffle

Truffle season start is determined by climate. The very first truffles have some aroma and little flavour, we do not sell these as they are too-early-truffles and not much better eating than fancy mushroom.

As the quality improves, there are early-Truffles, which are worth eating, and great in some dishes, but not all recipes work well, therefore we only sell these at farmgate so advice can be given.

• As a guide, for early truffles, 5-10grams per person, per dish vs 3-5g for 

• Indicative prices; actual prices according to quality of aroma & flavour
• $1 to $2 per gram
• {in our opinion, if it needs twice as much per dish, it should be at least half the price}
• alternatively discounted further, if purchased along with better truffle, either fresh or frozen

As the season progresses, early type truffle will then be regarded as B, then C grade.

Further info...

All lower grades as available on the day, -Strictly farm gate only. Trade or public, best $=best product

Only a few want cheaper grades when they see the premium grade truffle. But some dishes can utilise lower grades with acceptable results.;

• Victorian Truffle, from other small growers or some of our truffle that's not everything it should be, as available, still better than most interstate or export offerings.

• Melbourne commercial grades
  Starting from the quality typically traded in Melbourne and priced accordingly. These may be slightly older truffle like is shipped interstate (weekend harvest, served following Fri/Sat), or improperly ripe or damaged. from as low as $1.00/g {Minimum value, any properly ripe truffle is worth this as spore, even without aroma, when dug back into ground to seed future season's truffles, or on non-producing trees}
• Melbourne typical retail grade... also from $1.00 - $2.00 per gram... depending how low grade it is. But no-one wants it when they smell better grades. Often people come to farmgate because they bought poor quality in town and want to see if there's better -Yes, there is!
• Other Grades, pieces, trim, peel etc. for experiments with soft cheese, sauces etc
  
  • -advice given, most ideas won't work, commercial products rely on synthetic aroma, not truffle
  • quite limited weekly supply of pieces/trim is anticipated, damage prevention this season has been quite successful
  • salami fades very disappointingly unless a large percentage is used,
  • keeping unpasteurised oil is dangerous, please don't attempt to make this product, but you can make a real oil infusion and use immediately, eg. on salad

A Truffle's aroma is at its best for 4-5 days from harvest, and should be used within 10 days. The aroma reduces over time, but the full flavour remains, and high grade truffles may well last longer when stored properly. It is better to tailor your order to your event date, perhaps allowing a few days of infusions before the main event.

Fresh from the farm

Purchasing direct from the orchard reduces handling delays, and we harvest throughout the week for truly fresh truffle.
(Compare that with the interstate truffle often traded in Melbourne, last week's/weekend's truffle, couriered to an interstate wholesaler Monday/Tuesday, then delivered to a restaurant mid-week for Fri/Sat meals... )

Spray Free

Our Yarra Valley Truffiére is run on organic principles, fostering the symbiotic relationship between the truffle and host tree. We believe there is no place in the production of a delicate, gourmet product for the use of either herbicide or pesticide sprays.

PLEASE NOTE:

Truffle conversation, advice on getting the most from your truffle, simple dish ideas etc is welcome.

But in interest of other customers, and our 7 day working week, No free orchard tours, impromptu hunts, or lessons on growing truffles.
According to demand, in 2021 there will be some private truffle hunts held prior to afternoon farm gate sales.
See store Events tab for open hunts and visits, or contact out of season for truffle consultation services