From scout leader to sustainability superstar – discover how one woman’s mission to tackle food waste turned into SA’s most inspiring regional business success story.
Imagine looking at a tonne of perfectly good dried peaches, destined for the bin because no one wanted them. Most of us might feel momentarily guilty before getting on with our lives.
Not Kelly Johnson.
Kelly – recently crowned winner of the prestigious 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for South Australia – took those peaches, turned them into profit, and sparked a booming regional business dedicated to sustainability and supporting local farmers.
Her business, SPhiker, creates eco-conscious, dehydrated meals perfect for hikers, cyclists, sailors – and pretty much anyone else looking for a nutritious, no-fuss meal solution.
And it all began with a pile of unwanted fruit.
From scout leader to sustainability champion
A self-described “outdoor enthusiast,” Kelly spent 15 years as a scout leader, where she first noticed that most camping meals were, frankly, pretty grim.
“My scouts didn’t like the hiking food on the market. It didn’t taste good, had terrible texture and was really expensive,” she says. “I knew there had to be a better way.”
When Kelly returned to her River Murray hometown of Mypolonga from Adelaide, she found local farmers struggling with enormous amounts of waste – starting with those peaches.
“A friend was chucking away a tonne of dried peaches every year,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘This is just awful.’ So I took them to market and sold them for him.”
This sparked Kelly’s first venture, Woodlane Orchard, turning rejected produce like apricots, citrus, and zucchinis into tasty, dehydrated meals now stocked Australia-wide.
Kelly says shelf-stable, plant-based meals are an easy, healthy way to reduce food waste – no more fridge guilt from throwing out produce you never got around to cooking.
Hiking food, but make it sustainable
Kelly soon spotted another niche. Customers kept asking for smaller portions suitable for outdoor adventures.
“I thought, okay, we’ll do hiking meals – but they had to be 100 per cent sustainable,” she says.
Finding truly eco-friendly packaging wasn’t easy, but she stuck to the scouting principle: “leave no trace.”
“Being sustainable sometimes means choosing a harder, slower or more expensive path,” Kelly says. “But you can look back and feel really proud.”
Eventually, she sourced home-compostable bags from overseas. “They literally blow away and rot – zero waste.”
Her determination paid off. SPhiker meals, now sold online, are popular with adventure groups and available at five university campuses. Each pack is vegan, gluten-free – and most importantly, delicious.
Award-winning and ambitious
SPhiker took out the Sustainability and Waste Management Award at the 2024 Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards.
But Kelly was still completely floored to be recognised with the SA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award last month. ‘I didn’t really think I had a chance,’ she admits.
This latest recognition has offered her much more than just another title. She’ll invest the $15,000 grant that comes with it in freeze-drying equipment, cutting meal prep time dramatically.
“The AgriFutures award means we’ll be able to freeze-dry the pasta and rice, so the meals will cook in well under 10 minutes – much faster and easier, which is exactly what our customers want.”
She plans to use her growing platform to tackle even more food waste. “South Australia alone has 200 tonnes of edible produce going to landfill every year. Last year, our businesses saved 20 tonnes. But we can do even better.”
Kelly’s ultimate vision involves regional workshops and local dehydration hubs, providing crucial support during periods when farmers desperately need help – like fruit fly lockdowns and droughts.
A passion beyond profit
Beyond the business, Kelly sees SPhiker as a vital tool for regional revival and community empowerment.
“We need businesses that inspire the community,” says Kelly. “Farmers can’t afford waste, especially during drought. It’s crazy to see food wasted when people and animals are hungry.”
Kelly also credits her country upbringing for her resilient entrepreneurial spirit.
“You learn some years are good, some aren’t,” she reflects. “You make the most of the good ones and get on with it when they aren’t.”
She encourages other young entrepreneurs not to hesitate, particularly women: “So many women, while they’re home bringing up kids, get really creative with the things they do – but they’re afraid to follow through.”
“Life’s too short not to have a go. If you lose, you lose. Take it on the chin and move forward.”
Celebrating rural women
Kelly is quick to shine a spotlight on her fellow AgriFutures Award finalists, calling them “incredible” and their projects “unbelievable”:
Marie Ellul – ART Lab Solutions
Marie developed an innovative livestock pregnancy test, allowing breeders to detect their cows’ pregnancies much earlier, significantly enhancing productivity. “Marie’s idea is easily a million-dollar business,” says Kelly.
Annabelle Homer – Voice It
Former journalist Annabelle helps rural communities find their voice, literally. Her coaching empowers locals with media and public-speaking skills. Kelly describes Annabelle’s project as “beautiful” and crucial for regional storytelling.
Emma Gilbert – Incubate Pro
Emma, who Kelly affectionately calls a “pocket rocket,” created an app for poultry farmers to track incubation metrics, reducing costs and boosting productivity. “Her project is going to make millions,” Kelly predicts enthusiastically.
Looking ahead
Winning the South Australian award means Kelly will travel to Canberra later this year to represent SA at the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner.
There, she’ll compete against winners from other states and territories for the prestigious national title. The winner receives an additional $20,000 grant – with $15,000 for the runner-up – to enable even greater impact and innovation.
“Being part of these awards is a privilege,” Kelly says. “Everyone needs to do their bit –
if my story helps someone realise ‘maybe I can do it too,’ that’s the biggest win.”
Read more about the 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award finalists and past winners here.
