This is a clever initiative that was thought up by the organization, Brand South Australia. They are an independent organization that proudly promotes South Australia and all things SA business and locally made and locally grown products and produce.

I Choose SA Day is on this Saturday, the 27^th of October.  The point of the day is to encourage everyone to support our own state suppliers.  One of the ways we can all get behind the idea is by purchasing some of our spectacular and delicious local produce and thereby help South Australian employment, businesses and families.

I really like the idea of buying local where possible the whole locavore (a person who makes an effort to eat food that is grown, raised, or produced locally, usually within 100 miles of home) really appeals to me. That also goes for when we are holidaying the more locally grown and made products to buy the better. So I will definitely be getting behind I choose SA day!

Mind you, when I really started to think about it I went to my fridge, freezer and pantry and readily found a whole heap of South Australian products that I buy regularly anyway. If you are living in South Australia, or even if you’re not, why not give these brands a go. Some of them you probably know and you could have some favourites amongst them too.  Some of them are known internationally and others may be our little secrets.

Spring Gully

This 4^th generation family owned business has been making pickles, relishes, sauces, jams and more since 1946. You can’t beat their sweet mustard pickles and also gherkins.

Newmans

Another family owned business that is iconic in South Australia. They are perhaps best known for their Horseradish but equally as good are their crushed garlic, crushed ginger and mustards. The Horseradish and beetroot relish is my absolute favourite, have it with your burger for a taste sensation. To this day all stages of production are carried out in South Australia.

Beerenberg

This is one brand that everyone would have heard of, their products are stocked in supermarkets Australia wide and their jams are also used on QANTAS flights and featured in many motels. The story of Beerenberg began almost 200 years ago with a family journey from Prussia to South Australia.

The family settled on land in the Adelaide Hills, where they grew fruit and vegetables and later began food production. Now 6 generations later, descendants of that family still own, farm and live on the property and have created a huge range of products. Apart from having a fantastic range of food you can also visit the farm shop at the Beerenberg farm in Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills and starting from November each year you can even pick your own strawberries. Our fridge is never without Beerenberg products, especially the salad dressings.

Bickfords

Bickford’s was founded over 175 years ago and are still a family owned and managed business with their head office and operations centre based in Adelaide. Amazingly they have been making cordials and other beverages since 1839, starting out in a small apothecary shop. Bickfords Ice Coffee Syrup has got our family through a lot of hot summers, School and University study, hangovers etc. for many, many years. There is nothing better than a glug of the syrup in the biggest glass you can find, topped up with milk and a few scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Golden North

That ice cream has to be Golden North. They have been around for 90 years, producing ice cream in Laura which is located in the mid north of SA, 240 kilometres from Adelaide. Their range of ice creams are so creamy and delicious and they also can boast being 100% palm oil free, use the freshest milk and cream, have a mostly gluten free range and are completely SA owned and made.

G Fresh

This company was established in 1996 and has a range of over 300 products. A garden fresh extensive range of herbs, spices and seasonings.

Douglasdale

My absolute favourite jams. As their advertising says, they use only pure fruit, no colourant, no artificial flavouring and no preservatives. Truly homemade flavoured jams and great varieties of flavours including Raspberry and Rhubarb, Fig & Ginger, Apricot, Apricot, Blackberry, Strawberry, Two Fruits, Cherry and Blackberry, Strawberry and Rhubarb, Pear & hazelnut & Vanilla. Just simply Yum!

These examples of great South Australian foods are just a tiny piece of why I find it easy to support ‘I Choose SA day’, and don’t even get me started on SA wines.

Here’s to buying local and supporting family businesses, and if you’re travelling in South Australia at the moment or in the future, keep an eye out for some of these brands, you won’t be disappointed if you add a few of these to your happy hour nibbles.

Glenys