FAQs

What is good about organic farming?

• Organic farmers work in harmony with nature and do not grow GM crops.
• Organic farming is sustainable farming.
• Organic farms can support higher levels of wildlife.
• Organic farming keeps harmful chemicals and pesticides out of the food we eat.
• Organic farming reduces toxic farming runoff and pollutants that contaminate our water, soil and air.
• Organic farming is better for the environment. Recent research has found that when compared to conventional agriculture, the very nature of organic farming not only makes it less of a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (40-60% lower), but organic farms have higher levels of organic matter in the soil this enables carbon to be stored in the soil.

Why should we buy organic bread?
Simply because organic breads contain NO chemical herbicides or pesticides, NO artificial preservatives or colourings and the grains used have NO genetic modification. Nothing in Bill’s Certified Organic products will add to our body’s “toxic load”. Organic bread, like other organic food, just tastes better.

Why do we use stoneground flour?
Our mill uses the stone ground process – a slower, older method which importantly avoids overheating and dehydration, so that wheatgerm and nutrients are not lost. All the germ, bran and endosperm of the whole grain, along with the vitamins and minerals, are retained and distributed evenly throughout the milled flour. The vitamin rich wheatgerm oil is released into the flour, colouring and flavouring it slightly.

What are some of the health benefits of eating organic sourdough bread?
In making sourdough breads, the slower fermentation (18 hours) allows the dough to rise and the beneficial lactobacilli to fully develop. This aids digestion as well as absorption of important vitamins and minerals. The glycemic index is considerably lower in sourdoughs than in conventional breads, so our breads are excellent for diabetics.

People who have allergies to dairy products, artificial flavourings and preservatives or commercial yeast find they are able to eat our bread. Our products have reduced salt, so they are suitable for people on low salt diets. Because our breads are organic they are also great for anyone on a “liver cleansing” diet.

What types of Certified organic breads are available?

At Bill’s our product range at present is –

• Certified Organic Stoneground Hi Fibre Unbleached Sourdough
• Certified Organic Stoneground 100% Wholemeal
• Certified Organic Stoneground Medium Rye
• Certified Organic Stoneground Multigrain
• Certified Organic Stoneground 100% Spelt
• Certified Organic Stoneground Multi Fruit

What is the best way to keep Bill’s bread?
Bill’s bread is best kept in a cool, dry place or it can be frozen and used as required. Although it contains no artificial preservatives, sourdough breads have a five to six day shelf life because the slight acidity of the sourdough is a natural preservative.

Why does organic bread sometimes cost more than conventional bread?
Organic grain is purchased from Certified organic farmers and milled in Certified organic flour mills. Because no artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used, the crop is generally smaller on an organic farm. The result is that Certified organic flour is generally twice the price of regular flour.

What does “Certified Organic” mean?
Our products are Certified organic by a certifying body (ACO) on behalf of the Australian Government. Organic certification is inclusive from the farm, to the mill and on to our bakery. We display our ACO logo on our packaging, along with our other accreditations – HACCP, Kosher and Halal.