Coltivare Issue Four is here —Summer is our favourite time of year. The markets come alive in a way that’s a little chaotic, a little sweaty, and a whole lot of fun. The flush of spring produce begins to ease, mangoes replace mandarins, cherries make their grand entrance, and the buzz of Christmas hums through every shed and stand. It’s a beautiful madness. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

But this summer, Coltivare is leaning into something deeper.

We want to shine a light on a truth that doesn’t get said enough in our industry: behind every truckload of fresh produce, every punnet packed with care, every spreadsheet balanced, and every stall opened before sunrise, there are women.

Women who lead. Women who graft. Women who nurture businesses, grow communities, and hold the line.

The data might say that one-third of Australia’s agricultural workforce is female. But if you’ve ever spent a day walking the floor at Sydney Markets or stood ankle-deep in lettuce beds before dawn, you know the number is probably higher. Because not every contribution is counted. Not every story is told. 

So, we’re telling it. In this edition, we’re putting the spotlight on the women who help make Lemdell what it is. From the farms to the frontlines of the market floor. 

From the boardroom to the warehouse. From the CFO to the Saturday-morning regular at Paddy’s with a notepad in one hand and a flat white in the other.

These women aren’t here to be applauded once a year on a calendar date. They’re the heartbeat of everyday. Their energy drives our culture, their decisions shape our future, and their care makes the work feel human.

This issue is for them. For the ones who grow, sell, serve, lead, and never stop showing up. Here’s to the women of Lemdell. And to the women across the supply chain doing the same. 

We see you.  We thank you.  

We grow because of you.