What makes you feel the most alive?

I feel the most alive when I’m in nature; it’s where I really connect with awe. It helps me to understanding that I am part of this living organism we call the earth, and its wellbeing is directly connected to my wellbeing.

Where does the name Ceres come from?

The Roman goddess of the harvest is Ceres, which inspired our name.

Please tell us more about your new coconut rolls.

Our new coconut rolls are for when people want a sweet snack but not just a sugar hit. The gentle sweetness of coconut cream with a touch of sugar rolled in rice flour is just right. Knowing that I am not ingesting chemicals from the growing and processing of this food makes it the perfect treat. It’s also a snack you can take as a gift when visiting someone and being gluten-free it sidesteps some potential allergy issues.

What is the Ceres mission?

The Ceres mission is to bring healing to the earth and humankind. By supporting certified organic agriculture, we know we are working for the health of everyone by not permitting chemicals in our food and, at the same time, working for the environment with cleaner air, water and soil, supporting biodiversity and sequestering carbon in the soil.

Why should we eat organic food?

If you have some regard for your health and the health of your family, you want to avoid chemicals in your food. If you have a concern for the environment, you want to support agriculture and a way of farming that works with nature as organics does, rather than without regard to nature as industrial farming does.

What are some of the ways Ceres Organics gives back to the planet?

Our building was the first industrial commercial building in New Zealand to have a five-star eco rating. It is part of our ethos to look at everything we do and align ourselves environmentally with our main activity of supporting organic and biodynamic agriculture which directly gives back to the planet through healthy soils, ecosystems that support biodiversity without polluting our rivers, our air and therefore lessening the impact on the earth. We are currently working to transform much of our packaging away from plastic to be home compostable and therefore environmentally compatible.

If you could imagine a new world, what would it look like?

Humans would have respect for the earth and lessen our harmful impact while finding new joy in the food that comes more directly from the bounty of nature, without undue processing that destroys its living qualities.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Most mornings I like to start slowly, contemplating life, reading a little, enjoying breakfast and doing a few chores around the house before heading to work. There, I pick up the pace with a coffee and a dive into the day’s work. I often have a later finish after most people have left to prepare for the next day or catch up on what hasn’t been done, then a wind-down into the evening and in bed early.

What’s next for Ceres Organics?

Innovation in not just our product range, but innovation in what and how we do it, to deepen our connection to our purpose. We’re all about making the human being the centre of our company and not an economic driver, which has no real purpose in itself.

Three delicious recipes

Banoffee Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes

Recipe / Ceres Organics
Makes: 12
DF, VG

1 tbsp Ceres Organic Ground Linseeds
3 tbsp water
1¼ cups Ceres Organic Spelt Flour
1 tbsp baking powder
¾ cup oat milk
¼ cup Ceres Organic Banoffee Peanut Butter
1 medium banana, mashed
1-2 tbsp Ceres Organic Maple Syrup, according to taste
1 tbsp Ceres Organic Apple-Cider Vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Organic Ceres Coconut Oil, for cooking

To serve
Sliced bananas, berries, maple syrup, extra peanut butter or coconut yoghurt

1. Combine the ground linseeds and water in a small bowl. Set aside while preparing the other ingredients.
2. Sift the spelt flour and baking powder into a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the linseed mix, oat milk, peanut butter, banana, apple-cider vinegar and vanilla extract. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
3. Heat a flat pan over medium low heat and add a little coconut oil. When hot, add about ¼ cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. When bubbles start to form on the surface, turn gently and cook the other side. Remove from the pan and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.
4. Serve layered with your choice of sliced bananas, berries, maple syrup, extra peanut butter and coconut yoghurt.

Banoffee Peanut Butter Caramel Slice

Recipe / Ceres Organics
Makes: 24 bars
GF, VG

Base
¾ cup rolled oats
¾ cup desiccated coconut
¾ cup ground almonds
100g pitted fresh dates (approx. 6 large)
3 tbsp Ceres Organics Organic Cacao Powder
¼ cup Ceres Organics Organic Coconut Oil, melted

Caramel Filling
½ cup Ceres Organics Organic Banoffee Peanut Butter
2 tbsp Ceres Organics Organic Maple Syrup
3 tbsp Ceres Organics Organic Coconut Oil
100g pitted fresh dates (approx. 6 large)
¼ cup water

Topping
125g dark chocolate
2 tbsp Ceres Organics Organic Coconut Oil
½ cup shredded coconut, toasted

1. Line the base of a 27x18cm tin with baking paper.
2. To make the base, place rolled oats, desiccated coconut, ground almonds, dates, cacao powder and melted coconut oil into a food processor and process until it resembles fine crumbs and comes together when pressed. Spoon mixture into prepared tin and press down with the back of a spoon.
3. To prepare the filling, place the peanut butter, maple syrup and coconut oil into a small saucepan. Bring to boil over a low heat, then set aside to cool slightly.
4. Place the cooled mixture into a food processor with the dates and water and process until smooth. Spread over the base then return to the refrigerator for 30 mins.
5. To prepare the topping, combine the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl. Melt over a double boiler or in a microwave, stirring to combine.
6. Drizzle the chocolate topping over the chilled slice. Sprinkle with toasted coconut and refrigerate until firm.
   Remove from the tin, cut into small bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Truffles

Recipe / Ceres Organics
Makes: 12
GF, VG

½ cup Ceres Organics Organic Salted Caramel Peanut Butter
1 tbsp Ceres Organics Organic Maple Syrup
1–2 tbsp Organic Coconut Flour
75g dark chocolate
Sea salt, to sprinkle

1. Place the peanut butter and maple syrup into a bowl and stir to combine. Stir in enough of the coconut flour to make a soft dough.
2. Roll walnut-sized pieces of the mixture into balls and place onto a small tray lined with baking paper. Freeze for 10–15 mins or until firm.
3. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in a microwave. Dip each ball into the melted chocolate. Place onto a tray lined with baking paper and sprinkle each truffle with a little sea salt. Place in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened.
4. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

For more, visit ceresorganics.com.au