For three decades, Sue Managan and her husband, David Forrest, have been at the heart of the Northern Rivers’ organic farming movement. As one of the first certified organic growers in the region, David helped lay the groundwork for what has become a thriving, conscious food culture, one rooted in care for the land, community health, and real flavour.
‘When we first started, we were the only certified-organic farmers at the market,’ Sue says. ‘Now, it’s amazing to see how many new growers are organic too.’
At their weekly stall at Mullum Farmers Market, Sue offers more than just seasonal fruit and vegetables, she’s curating a natural medicine cabinet, especially welcome on a chilly winter morning. Their famous Jamu, a traditional Balinese tonic made with turmeric, ginger, tamarind, citrus and honey, is a bestseller, alongside a fiery Fire Cider packed with horseradish, garlic, and lemon. ‘It’ll give your taste buds a workout,’ Sue laughs. ‘And if you’re congested, it’ll clear you out fast.’
The stall also features house-grown and roasted Arabica coffee, known for its mellow, low-caffeine profile, as well as fresh macadamia spreads, ground just before market, Davidson plum jam, and sushi-style pickled ginger – seasonal highlights that include early Italian garlic bulbs, Chinese cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
‘David has always believed food should be medicine,’ Sue says. ‘We make and grow everything ourselves with no shortcuts – just simple, clean, fresh ingredients.’
Organic farming may be more labour-intensive, she notes, but direct-to-customer selling keeps prices accessible – and freshness unbeatable. ‘It’s picked the day before,’ she says. ‘At its peak for nutrition, texture and flavour.’
Thirty years on, Sue and David remain pioneers – not only in the paddock, but in the hearts (and bellies) of the community they’ve helped nourish for a generation.
Find Organic Forrest every Tuesday at New Brighton Farmers Market from 8am to 11am and every Friday at Mullum Farmers Market from 7am to 11am.
