Native pearls of goodness
Hands up if you’ve ever tried finger limes!
For an Australian native fruit, they’re not that widely known or used. Roxanne Hinton and husband Luke from The Salty Lime Co near Rockhampton are working to get the taste out there and having a ball doing it.
The Salty Lime Co is a 133-acre family-owned finger lime farm established in 2013. Roxanne and Luke planted their orchard in 2019 and now have 1500 trees growing two varieties of finger limes: Emerald Green and Byron Sunrise.
The Salty Lime co - Hinton family farm
Roxanne says the unique, versatile fruit is just starting to be discovered in the foodie scene with more restaurants exploring ways to use them.
“They are an Australian native fruit used by the Indigenous peoples many years ago for health and medical purposes,” Roxanne says.
“The citrus pearls that ooze out of the finger lime are exciting and give a beautiful citrus burst of flavour. The versatility of the pearls is what makes them so special, and what customers love about them. They can be used on seafood, salads, in drinks, cocktails, or just eaten on their own.”
Roxanne says one of the things she loves most about their fruit is showing it to people for the first time.
“You see the excitement on their faces watching the pearls burst out of the fruit and the taste when it hits their tastebuds. I also love picking finger limes, it can be hard and very spikey but for me very therapeutic.“
As well as pioneering finger lime production in Queensland, Roxanne was integral in the growth of REKO. She is a founder and admin for REKO Yeppoon where they regularly have finger limes available for pickup on Wednesday afternoons.
“I was invited to an information workshop by Capricorn Enterprise, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Taste of Capricorn, and the lovely Jacki Hinchey who had brought REKO to Australia,” she recalls.
“I loved what she had presented, so myself along with Anthony from Dynamic Eggs, decided to create one for our community on the Capricorn Coast.”
Roxanne says REKO has not only been great for business, but great for community connection as well.
“You can support your local businesses and farmers and help us bring back a community support network,” she says to potential customers.
“You get fresh, home-made produce or items with the convenience of ordering online and brought to your car window. It’s like a drive through for fresh, homegrown or homemade produce!”
To other business, she says:
“Do it! It’s really fun and we enjoy our Wednesday catch ups. Be patient as we are still getting the word out there but it’s defiantly worth it.
“I have made some great friendships and I have learnt so much from our fellow REKO farmers and they have supported and guided me as a young farmer with any questions I have had. Sometimes farming can feel overwhelming and isolating so REKO gives us the opportunity to catch up once a week and chat and check in on each other.”
It’s amazing to think Roxanne has time to catch up at REKO once a week. Producing finger limes is only a side business for their busy farm, which is a thriving event location offering orchard walks, weddings and other events, yoga and health retreats, picnics and glamping stays.
That’s in addition to their two other businesses in concreting and construction, and Roxanne’s work as a natural therapist.
Their weekly REKO pick-up really is a great chance to catch them and ask all your finger lime questions.
“I have made some great friendships and I have learnt so much from our fellow REKO farmers and they have supported and guided me as a young farmer with any questions I have had. Sometimes farming can feel overwhelming and isolating so REKO gives us the opportunity to catch up once a week and chat and check in on each other.”
