THE European Alps came to shearing sheds of Tasmania this week, with German mountaineering brand Ortovox paying a visit to their Merino wool suppliers spread across state. The Munich-based company produces alpine ski gear from a variety of materials for a variety of uses, but source their Merino wool from Tasmanian producers, something they proudly boast.

Michael Kuzev, who works in sourcing and production planning in Munich, said Ortovox was excited to be back in the state after Covid had interrupted their usual visit to growers and suppliers. “For 10 years we’ve been fostering a relationship with our Tasmanian supply and over the last five we’ve been getting closer with the individual growers, Mr Kuzev said.

“We have seven growers we work with closely, now with the growth of our company we’re looking forward to extending the relationships with the newer, larger group, which is the purpose of this visit. “This is the first time since 2019 that we’ve been able to come over to meet new and older growers and see how they’ve been over the years. “It’s fascinating to meet each and every grower who have their own way of operating, some focus on wool, some are including other elements like cropping, we are blessed to see how these fifth, sixth or seventh generations operate.”

After a whirlwind trip across the state which saw visits to their suppliers’ sheds and historic wool properties like Mount Morrison, Cressy House and Ashby under the guidance of Wool Solutions, the Ortovox team made their way to the Derwent Valley, visiting Glenelg and Arundel Farm. “It shows how strong our relationship with our farmers is,” Ortovox communications manager Lisa Pfeiffer said.