SUPPORTING LOCAL:

THE STORY OF MT. WILDER BERRIES & THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

April 24th, 2025

At the heart of every thriving community is a shared spirit of support, connection, and growth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the success stories of local businesses that have found their roots within a community that believes in them. One such inspiring story is that of Olive and Jason, the founders of Mt. Wilder Berries, a brand born out of resilience, passion, and the pursuit of wellness.

It all started six years ago at Market Organics Rocklea, the big, beautiful family-owned health food store that dragged us all together.

Olive, Caitlinn (our Clayfield store manager), and I (Jess Redmond, General Manager) worked together as casual retail assistants. We were all learning, growing, and building a community that would later serve as the foundation for some incredible journeys, including Olive’s own.

As Olive navigated years of health struggles, battling gut problems, neurological disorders, anemia, and autoimmune conditions; she reached a pivotal point. Embarking on a journey to healing through whole foods. It was here that she discovered the incredible healing power of wild blueberries, and this newfound passion for wellness became the spark that ignited Mt. Wilder Berries.

In 2018, from their home kitchen, Olive and Jason set out on a mission to bring the purest, most healing berries to Australia. While wild blueberries were their first love, they quickly realised there were no truly wild, foraged berries available on the market.

On a transformative trip to Europe, they discovered the wild berries of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania.

The taste, the smell, the feeling of those freshly picked berries left a lasting impression, and Olive and Jason knew they had to bring these unique flavours to Australia. So, they went on the journey of discovering and sourcing the most beautiful and pure berries on the planet. Now sourcing berries from Sweden and beyond. But it wasn’t just about the berries. It was about building a brand that upheld values of integrity, authenticity, and health – values that were so deeply rooted in the community they came from.

Market Organics was proud to be the first EVER stockist of Mt. Wilder Berries!

We were beyond excited to put Olive and Jason’s berries on our shelves for the first time, and our team felt a deep sense of pride in supporting their journey. It’s the perfect example of how local businesses can grow and thrive when the community gets behind them.

This story is one that embodies the heart of what we believe in at Market Organics – the power of community and the support of local brands, people, and products. At MO, we are incredibly proud to have played a small part in the early journeys of so many successful local businesses, from the very beginning.

It's not just stocking products; it’s fostering an environment where dreams are nurtured, where individuals like Olive and Jason can take that first step toward making their vision a reality.

Supporting local is more than just a business decision – it’s a way to support the people behind the brands, to invest in products that reflect the values of the community, and to ensure that small businesses continue to thrive. When we support local, we’re not just helping a business grow; we’re contributing to a larger ecosystem that benefits everyone.

As Mt. Wilder Berries continues to grow, it remains a shining example of what happens when passion, community, and high-quality products come together. We’re proud to see the journey Olive and Jason have taken – from humble beginnings to bringing a taste of the wild to Australian homes – and we know the community that surrounds them will continue to be a driving force behind their success.