THREE OAKS ORGANICS
Three Oaks Organic Farm is a family-owned farm with two generations of history behind it. Owner and caretaker David O’Donnell returned to the family farm after spending several years working in Queenstown. Today, Three Oaks is a certified organic farm producing organic raw milk, whole pasteurised milk and pot-set yoghurt on farm.
What makes Three Oaks particularly special is its genuinely farm-direct approach. The team is involved in the entire journey, from caring for the land and the herd, through milking and processing, to getting its products into the hands of customers. This hands-on approach means the farm has control over the process from paddock to plate, providing traceability and accountability at every stage.
David & Teresa of Three Oaks Organics in the Manawatū
FARMING WITH CARE AND INTEGRITY
At Three Oaks, farming begins with being caretakers of the land rather than simply using it to produce food. Every decision is considered through the connection between land, animals, people and food.
While organic certification provides an important framework, the farm’s philosophy goes beyond simply meeting a standard. Three Oaks is committed to farming in a way that builds healthy soil, respects the natural environment and prioritises the wellbeing of its animals. Its goal is simple: to produce honest, nutrient-dense food while leaving the land in a better position for the next caretaker.
Being a small farm allows Three Oaks to make decisions based on quality and integrity rather than chasing volume. The farm also aims to keep its business local wherever possible, working with local businesses and other producers who share its values. Creating access to real, whole-milk dairy products is an important part of this focus.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO FOOD PRODUCTION
Three Oaks believes modern food production can create a significant distance between the farmer and the person eating the food. Three Oaks is working to shorten that distance by giving customers the opportunity to know where their milk comes from, who farms it and how it is produced.
As a single-origin farm, Three Oaks has visibility across the entire production process. Its cows spend their lives on pasture, and the farm works with the seasons rather than treating the land like a factory that needs to produce the same thing every day of the year.
The farm is committed to farming without synthetic chemical inputs and to working with natural systems rather than trying to dominate them.
“For Three Oaks, organic farming isn't about being different for the sake of being different. It is about producing good food while caring for the land and ensuring it remains healthy for the future”. -Teresa
FOOD WITH A STORY
Behind every bottle of Three Oaks milk or pot of yoghurt are real people, real animals and a real farm. The team cares deeply about quality and about the relationships it builds with its customers and wider community.
Choosing Three Oaks means supporting a different approach to food production, one that is transparently farm-direct, with a focus on local and nutrient-dense food.
As a small Manawatū producer, Three Oaks Organic Farm is proud to create food close to where it is consumed and to give its customers a genuine connection to where their food comes from. For the farm, good food should have a story, and that story starts with healthy land, well-cared-for animals and a commitment to doing things with integrity.
