The word "coviare" in large white text, with "by Lemdell" in smaller white text underneath.
Text graphic with the words 'Issue One' and 'Autumn' in large, bold letters on a black background.

A no-nonsense, straight-talking, unfiltered look at the world of fresh produce.

This isn’t just another industry mag—this is about real people, real food, and the grit behind getting the best damn produce from the soil to the plate.

Coltivare—meaning ‘to cultivate’—isn’t about marketing fluff. It’s about the farmers and chefs turning simple ingredients into unforgettable meals, the buyers making it all happen, and the agents in the markets who are the backbone of these connections. Agents are more than middlemen—they’re the bridge between growers and buyers, ensuring the right produce reaches the right hands at the right time. They know the seasons, the soil, and the stories behind every box or pallets they move, working tirelessly to serve the relationships that keep this industry alive.

Farming isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s long days, unpredictable weather, and a constant battle between nature and necessity. It’s the quiet satisfaction of pulling a harvest from the ground, knowing it’s heading to the hands of people who respect the craft. In the markets, it’s the relentless energy of agents making deals before sunrise, ensuring chefs and retailers get the best, freshest picks of the season. On the other side of that equation, chefs and wholesalers aren’t just moving product—they’re curating experiences, building relationships, and ensuring every piece of produce tells a story worth tasting.

Every season, Coltivare will bring you the real stories behind the food that fuels us all. There will be no sugar coating, no spin—just the voices of those who make this industry what it is.

This is for the growers, the agents, the providores, the chefs, and the buyers. The ones who know that good food starts long before it hits the plate.

Autumn

IN THIS ISSUE

Two men standing in a mushroom fermentation room, smiling at the camera. One man is holding a jar of dried mushrooms, and the other is holding a bag of cultivated mushrooms. Shelves filled with bags of mushroom culture are visible in the background.

OUR HISTORY

A man holding a yellow box of strawberries in front of stacked yellow boxes of strawberries labeled 'TK Strawberries.'

Four Decades in the Trenches


We started with a simple goal: get the best produce to the people who know what to do with it. Look at us now.

Black and white photo of a male chef in a commercial kitchen, looking directly at the camera, with hanging lights above and kitchen equipment in the background.

MEET THE CHEF

Meet Matteo Zamboni


We sat down with Chef Matteo Zamboni, the force behind the beautifully refined yet deeply soulful menu at Civico 47, nestled on Windsor Street in the heart of Paddington.

Fresh tomato salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red onion slices, basil leaves, and olive oil on a white plate

RETAIL RECIPES

A hand is pouring brown liquid, likely honey or syrup, into a gray mug containing a slice of lemon, a green leaf, and some orange flower. The mug is on a light-colored surface, and a beige apron is visible in the background.
A white plate with assorted roasted vegetables, garnished with chives and red onion slices, and a lemon wedge on the side.

Simple, Seasonal & Full of Flavour


Autumn Tomato & Bocconcini Salad

Turmeric, Honey, Mint & Lemon Tea

Exotic Mushroom, Garlic & Sundried Tomato Pesto Toast

An assortment of fresh vegetables including cherry tomatoes on the vine, whole white mushrooms, red, yellow, and orange peppers, green beans, and a green bell pepper on a wooden cutting board.

Lemdell PICKS

Autumn Selects


Hand-curated collection of the season’s finest thoughtfully chosen by the team at Lemdell, bringing the flavours of Autumn to you. 

Close-up of beige oyster mushrooms with gills visible, stacked together.

A GROWER’s STORY

From Fighter To Fungi


This story began in a Muay Thai gym, where the journey to exceptional fungi took root. Tim’s farm is designed to cultivate each mushroom species to its fullest potential