Murray River Gourmet Salt
SunSalt is a company producing salt from the underground saline waters of the Murray Darling Basin. Whilst the company has been producing stockfeed and industrial salt for 20-years it is only in the last five-years that it has launched a range of natural inland gourmet salt products. The gourmet food products contain no additives, only the natural minerals such as magnesium & calcium. The brines used give the salt an appealing pinkish/apricot colour, as well as a unique and delicious flavour. SunSalt believe inland salt is equal to imported sea salt products. Fortunately there is now a realization that the process of washing salt and removing the beneficial elements is no longer advantageous.
The salt making process involves pumping the saline waters onto existing salt lakes or salt degraded sites. The water is pumped into crystallizer ponds until sufficient depth is achieved and then the natural evaporation process can commence. N.W. Victoria has an extremely high evaporation rate of 1 - 1.2m per annum combined with low humidity, therefore the brine reaches the required specific gravity during the summer months to allow crystallization to commence. The resultant salt is then harvested, stockpiled and transported to either Hattah or Mildura for processing.
Widespread salinity effecting both the country's vital water supply and agricultural land is Australia’s most serious environmental problem. Salt production in these areas resulting in the eventual removal must assist in a positive way.
SunSalt have featured the products at various “Taste” events and received overwhelming support. A notable event was the annual “Harvest Picnic” at Hanging Rock Vic where both a “Gold” & “Best New Product” award was given to the Gourmet Salt Flakes. The product is now used on Qantas airlines as well as the All Nippon Airlines in Japan.
SunSalt were recently awarded equal first prize – National Salinity Award by Engineers Australia Engineers. This award is for companies who have demonstrated successful methods of reducing salinity impacts on the environment. This product is now available in Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, USA & Canada.
The present emphasis on the fact that salinity is Australia’s worst environmental problem presents a timely opportunity to encourage the consumer to seek out and use
Australian inland salt!
