Laois couple switch business from timber to organic oils
A Laois couple have made a huge change in their business, going from selling commercial timber to delicate organic oils.
Andrea and Markus Milley are both originally from Germany, long settled in Clonanny, Portarlington where they have a farm and also produce their edible oils.
The products are delicious cold pressed oils, made from flowers, flax seed, hemp seed, hazlenuts, sunflowers and almonds. They can be added to dressings, dips, baking, soups, desserts or taken pure as a supplement. They also make flaxseed flour and hemp flour which they say are healthier alternatives.
"The by product is used on the farm to feed the pigs. They are all natural and healthy, with no preservatives, additives or filters. We are in the process of getting organic certification," Andrea said.
They called it Íon Oil, with the tree of life as their logo.
The couple had run Milley Timber for many years, selling outdoor furniture, but it became unviable.
"Our timber came from Germany and we lost our supplier with Covid. We thought we would do something else," said Markus.
"I had used cold pressed oils for a long time. We lived back in Germany for a while and rented out our farm here. In Germany a lot of producers make oil like this. After five years we came back and I couldn't get it in Ireland.
"Markus said lets try and do it ourselves. We spent time during the pandemic on research and designing the packaging.
"We only started three months ago in March. We started selling them in Solas down the road from us. Laois Taste approached us and have been very helpful and friendly," Andrea said.
"Our goal for the future is to grow as much of our oil seeds as possible on our farm. At the moment we source all our seeds and nuts in Ireland. We make sure that it is certified organic goods, which we then process into high quality organic oils by gentle cold pressing. Filling the tins, labelling, packanging, everything is handmade and carefully handled by our whole family," the couple state on their brochure.
They now sell their oils online as well as going to fairs, with their next stand at the Old Fort Festival in Portlaoise as part of the Laois Tastes food group.