The Swan Valley in summer has queues forming early to score plump bunches of grapes from growers whose ties to the region can date back 50 to 100 years.
“Between Matt and my family, we have been open to the public since the early 1960s. For us, it’s not a job … it’s been our life,” says Marlene Katich of Kato’s @ 3000 Grapes in West Swan Road, Caversham.
Kato’s opens during the table grape season (usually early January to late March), and Marlene has watched the growing season intensify due to the development of additional varieties, specific growing protocols and new growing regions across the state.
Further down West Swan Road, Damian Katich stepped in to run The Grape Place after his father Cedo ‘Chas’ Katich passed away in 2022.
“We have a pretty loyal customer base that has been built over five decades,” says Damian, who previously ran a successful marketing business before feeling the pull to continue the family tradition.
“It’s a legacy I don’t want to let fall away,” Damian says. “If you ask my son, he says he will take over from me, but he is only 14.”
Damian says people like to make a connection with what they are buying and enjoy seeing him coming in from the vineyard with grapes still warm from the sun. Growing 17 different grape varieties, The Grape Place also cultivates melons.
Baba and Dida’s is one of the few fresh produce stores that are open year-round. The Tolich family has been growing and selling produce at its West Swan Road property for more than 25 years. Tony Tolich gave up a career in real estate to move his parent’s farm stall into a converted shed, transforming it into a bustling European style marketplace and cafe complete with coffee and Croatian pastries. Grapes, melons, garlic and tomatoes are the mainstays, but you’ll also find olive oil and vinegars.
“It’s about meeting new customers as well as the friendships we’ve formed with people who have been coming for years,” Tony says of his motivation. “Customers like being able to buy fresh produce from a family business, picked daily.”
If Tony hasn’t grown it himself, you can be assured that the produce didn’t travel far before reaching his shelves. “We buy direct from other like-minded small family businesses in Wanneroo, Spearwood and the Perth Hills,” he says.
Marija and Philipp Keller have been on their Dayton farm for 26 years, having chosen the idyllic spot to raise their family and open Keller’s Farm. “We have livestock, farm fresh eggs, woodfired bread and pastries, jams, preserves, muesli, and a variety of fruit trees,” say Marija.
“We really love the idea of producing wholesome foods and making bread using local ingredients. What isn’t sold over the weekend will be either dehydrated, used to create preserves or as an ingredient in pastries. Nothing is wasted and any scraps go to our animals.”
Marija and Philipp, with the help of children Stefan and Alexa; Marija’s 87-year-old dad; 83-year-old uncle; plus a growing team, have together built a thriving weekend-only community that comes to shop, chat and enjoy a coffee and pastry.
“Customers love that it’s fresh, homemade, sourced from either us or locally and that it tastes real — how food should taste, just like the old days,” says Marija.
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