|
|
|
|
Chair's Report
August 2015
Welcome to our new members. It’s great to have you join and we look forward to meeting up at our next get togethers whether at Sample, networking meetings etc.
Don’t forget to reach out to Anne Briggs if you have any enquiries or need a contact etc. Our network is the way we share our information and solve challenges. And she will connect you with the right people.
The new Country of Origin proposed labelling is now in the public arena. Make sure you read the proposed changes at www.industry.gov.au/cool. If we say nothing it may pass as is. It has significant impact for every Australian producer and manufacturer. I see it as confusing for consumers, not solving the Nanna’s food safety scare on which it was based, and a burden rather than a benefit for producers but I would really like to hear your opinions – email me at pam@brookfarm.com.au. NRF will make representations to Government on the issues that concern you.
Pam Brook
Chair
|
|
Get Involved with NRF Cooking Stage at Sample this year: seeking volunteers & sponsors!
It’s on again…we're gearing up for another great line up of our best local chefs and producers from the Northern Rivers region at the NRF Cooking Stage at Sample Festival this year, September 5th.
Sample Food Festival is a food festival favourite, that celebrates the creativity and well being of our amazing local food. Held in Bangalow, each year this event attracts over 15,000 visitors through the door each year and is supported by 200 stall holders, who include local restaurant owners, farmers and local food producers.
The NRF Cooking Stage is always a highlight of Sample, and this year we expect record crowds joining the event running from 8.15am – 4.15pm. We kick off our cooking program with celebrity Luke Hines whipping up one of his favourite, easy breakfasts using fresh, local produce and Brookfarm Powerfood. Then from 9am our morning MC Donna Harper will introduce a stella line up of NRF members & guest chefs throughout the day. Samantha Gowing will continue in the afternoon, introducing a range of amazing dishes created by our own local talent (see program below).
To help make the event a success we are calling for volunteers from our local foodie community to help us set up and get ready for the event. We are also seeking interested sponsors to help stage this popular event. For more information on either volunteering or sponsoring this event, please contact Anne Briggs, NRF E: info@northernriversfood.org.au
Anne Briggs
Executive Officer
|
|
|
New Member: Gowings Food, Health, Wealth
Gowings Food Health Wealth is a global wellness solutions company founded by chef and nutritionist Samantha Gowing in 2000. Based in Byron Bay, Gowings Food Health, Wealth create signature culinary programs for luxury hotels, spas and health retreats worldwide. More information: http://www.foodhealthwealth.com/
|
|
|
|
New Member: The Spice Trading Company
The Spice Trading Company produces a range of exciting dip and seasoning mixes made up of dehydrated vegetables, herbs & spices offering natural, gluten free, low fat options. More information: http://www.thespicetradingcompany.com.au/
|
|
|
|
New Member: Australian Native Bee Company
Our business focuses on pollination, education and conservation using Australian native stingless bees. We offer a pollination service, sell hives and related products and give educational talks to various groups. More information: http://www.stevesnativebees.com.au/
|
|
|
|
New Member: Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar
NSW DPI Wollongbar carry out research and development to support industry development, sustainability and profitability. More information contact: rik.whitehead@dpi.nsw.gov.au
|
|
|
|
CONTENT CREATION & SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS
Special NRF member rates!
THE ART OF SOCIAL present a special social media workshop / coaching session for foodies!
Tuesday August 18 @ Paper Runway, Byron Bay. Intimate class size so be quick to secure a spot.
Learn THE ART OF SOCIAL media and grow your passion, product or profile into a thriving online presence > reach and connect with your tribe! Come and join fellow NRF members for a morning of discovery, clarity and creativity tailored to your industry.
- discover content: your ideal customer + key messages
- create beautiful images: editing, apps & text overlay > BYO phone
- identify ways to grow your online community: hashtags, collaboration & cross promotion
- enjoy treats + goodie bags
For tickets visit: http://bit.ly/1NKN0G6 and enter code: NRFmembers.
** If you’re brand new to social media check out the SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NEWBIES bridging course – the perfect introduction & hands-on set up session.
|
|
Last chance to be part of Good Food & Wine Event Sydney!
One of Australia’s largest Food events is fast approaching! The Good Food & Wine Events are coming up in Sydney & Brisbane. Sydney 7-9 August & Brisbane 30 October - 1 November. Northern Rivers have set up a group stand at both these shows to showcase the best of our region. Whether you are a larger or smaller boutique producer, the Good Food & Wine Show is an excellent way to reach your target audience! Don't miss out! Download More information or contact the organisers directly to discuss available options.
Rebecca Wood – rwood@divcom.net.au – 03 9261 4516
Anna McCredie – amccredie@divcom.net.au – 03 9261 4579
|
|
|
100 Mile Table Upcoming Events:
Cooking from River Cottage Australia
On Friday August 7th, our special guest for dinner is Paul West from River Cottage Australia. We will be cooking from his new book while he sits back and (hopefully) enjoys dinner and a few quiet wines. There’ll be books for sale and he’ll be signing but this is all about beautiful local produce cooked just the way it should be and we are big fans of his laid back honest food style. If you’d like to join us and Paul West for dinner at 100 Mile Table, contact: jeremy@100miletable.com
Bangalow Designers Market
The 100 Mile Table pop up café hits the Bangalow Designers Spring Market on Saturday September 19th – we’ll serving breakfast and lunch bites all day from 8am till 3pm – come and rest the weary feet for a minute or 10 after the hard graft of shopping. Bangalow Public School, Byron St, Bangalow. One not to miss.
|
|
|
Join us at the NRF Cooking Stage at Sample September 5th
The Northern Rivers Food Cooking Stage will be cooking up a storm at Sample Festival again this year at Bangalow September 5th – Don’t Miss it. Program highlights will include:
8.15am – 8.45am Our Guest Celebrities do Breakfast!
9.00 am-9.30am “Create the Perfect Cheese Platter”. Paul Wilson, Nimbin Valley Dairy & Don Cummings, Coastal Fine Food
10 am– 10.30am Playing with Fire & Bangalow Sweet Pork with Samantha Gowing, Food Health Wealth
11am-11.30am “Salumi Love”. Terase Davison from Taste Byron Bay with Brad Hay, Salumi Australia.
12noon - 12.30pm “The Magic of Mushrooms!”. Donna Harper, The Witches Broomstick, Gavin Hughes, Head Chef Byron at Byron & Chef Sky Stoll from The Roadhouse.
1pm-1.30pm “Seafood & Macadamia Sensations”. Pam Brook, Brookfarm with Steve Snow, Fins Restaurant.
2.00pm-2.30pm “¡Ay, caramba! Let’s Make Cocktails!”. Katrina Patton, Red Dragon Organics with Julie, Black Sombrero.
3pm-3.30pm “Mandolato” by ilias The GREEK
For more information contact: Anne Briggs E: info@northernriversfood.org.au
|
|
|
|
Congratulations Red Dragon Organics:
From Local Markets to Australian Business Awards
Red Dragon Organics, a local family business based in Goonellabah has been recognised as an outstanding Australian business and was awarded a Finalist position in the Telstra Australian Business Awards in Sydney last Tuesday night.
The awards judge businesses, looking in depth across the categories of sales and marketing, customer relations, team culture, business planning and financials to recognise Australia’s most outstanding small and medium businesses.
“It feels so good to be recognised as one of five finalists chosen from thousands of entries in the Micro Business category when we are such a tiny business and we place business ethics and sustainability at the heart of everything we do” said Katrina Patton. "I entered Red Dragon Organics in the awards after encouragement from other local businesses, Stone & Wood and Brookfarm who have won these awards in the past.”
Red Dragon Organics produce handcrafted beverages that are naturally fermented in the bottle, using freshly dug cold pressed local organic ginger and turmeric.
For more information contact: Katrina Patton, T: 0405 427 932 or E: Katrina@reddragonorganics.com.au
|
|
|
|
Byron Bay Tea Company Welcomes Simone Roseler
The Byron Bay Tea Company is excited to welcome their newest team member Simone Roseler. Simone, a new Northern Rivers resident and self confessed tea fanatic, has an extensive background in marketing, sponsorship and customer relationship management. Her career spans from the banking and finance industry, through to professional football and local government. With a strong commitment to health/wellbeing, and a love of cooking/eating utilising all the amazing fresh produce available in the area, she has now found her 'happy place' working with a product that she is truly passionate about. Simone has joined Sarita and her team to focus on business development and nurturing customer relationships and is very keen to develop productive partnerships with other members of the Northern Rivers Food Network. To contact Simone email: marketing@byronbayteacompany.com.au
|
|
|
Brookfarm Key Account and Business Development Manager
An opportunity now exists for a dynamic and experienced Key Account / Business Development Manager to join Brookfarm’s National Sales team.
The Position: Reporting to the CEO this is an exciting and challenging role, based in Byron Bay that will provide immense satisfaction for an individual who has a passion and drive for the food industry & building strong relationships with customers & clients.
To view the full Ad and apply for this position please go to: http://www.seek.com.au/job/29066800?pos=1&type=standard.
|
|
|
Are you interested in these? Make us an offer!
Brookfarm have some stationery supplies up for grabs including:
- 100 Cardboard Mailing tubes size 700mm x 125mm x 2mm (without lids); and
- 24 rolls of Top Load stickers
If you’re interested in either of these products we’d love to hear from you…please make us an offer!! Contact: Jody Hutton, Purchasing Manager, Brookfarm, Ph: 02 6620 9512.
|
|
|
|
Gowings Food, Health, Wealth present…
The Exclusive Byron Bay Brain on Business Mastermind Club.
The Whole Happiness Academy presents a private six month mastermind mentoring program that meets the last Friday of each month at the Lord Byron Resort, Byron Bay. This is an exclusive club for 12 health practitioners, wellness business owners, product developers or organic café proprietors. PLUS 6 monthly 1 hour ALL YOU CAN ASK personal Skype sessions to clarify your most pressing needs. More information.
|
|
|
|
Recent Food Safety Matters,
by Dawn Pethers, consultant Food Technologist (and NRF Member)
I attended the 11th Annual FIAQ (Food Industry Association of Queensland) Food Safety Conference on Thursday 23rd July, in Brisbane. A major topic under discussion, rather topically, in view of the recent outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne, was Salmonella risk in eggs, and egg products.
While the fresh egg supply in Australia is regarded as very safe, there are issues surrounding egg production. FSANZ Food Standard 2.2.2 Egg and Egg Products (which states that no cracked or broken eggs must be used for retail or catering purposes, or any unprocessed egg pulp. Additionally, all eggs should have an identification mark stamped on them).
Fresh eggs are potentially a problem in mousse, mayonnaise, and aioli products, scrambled eggs and omelettes, custard and pavlovas, and the like, when egg is used raw, or may be lightly cooked. As a result, if larger quantities of these are being prepared, it would be recommended to use pasteurised or dried egg products.
Also, if the NRF community would like to receive information on the Australian Food and Safety Council (AFSC) Food Safety Auditing Project that Fiona Fleming Advisor, Policy and Regulation is working on currently, and perhaps contribute, she can be contacted on 0417461 911, or at email - fiona.fleming@afgc.org.au
For more information please contact: dpethers@hotmail.com.
|
|
|
Freshzest Herbs: New Winter Cookbook Available Now
Discover the latest info on how to use the Freshzest range of herbs, with winter warming, mouth-watering recipes to try … Download here.
|
|
|
Take Advantage of an Immediate $20,000 Tax Write-off
Small business can access an immediate tax write-off for depreciating assets that cost less than $20,000.
- A “small business entity” is has annual aggregated turnover of less than $2m.
- The deduction is claimed in the year for the asset is “first used or installed ready for use” between May 12, 2015 and June 30, 2017;
- New and second hand assets are eligible.
TNR Business Advisory can help you take advantage of these business incentives. More information contact: enquiries@tnr.com.au.
|
|
|
Food & Grocery Executive Program
The Institute of Food & Grocery Management present the 2015 Food and Grocery Executive Program - this program helps managers and key talent in the FMCG industry become better leaders, enhance industry knowledge, gain significant contacts throughout the supply chain and creates opportunities for future mentorship. This year's program will be held from the 21st-24th of September at the Sydney Conference & Training Centre. For more information: http://bit.ly/1Ksxg9B.
|
|
|
|
NSW Food Authority Changes to notification requirements for retail food businesses
As of 1 September 2015, retail food businesses such as restaurants, cafes and supermarkets are no longer required to notify the NSW Food Authority of their business details.
The Food Authority recognises retail food businesses’ provision of relevant details to council as complying with the intent of the statutory obligation to notify. Council already receives the relevant information through applications for services, permits and approvals, and through the process of paying commercial rates, fees and charges.
All non-retail food businesses, including manufacturers and wholesalers, will need to continue to notify the Food Authority. Licensed businesses (such as butcher shops, dairy producers, seafood processors) are deemed to comply with notification requirements when they submit a completed licence application.
For more information regarding these changes, visit the NSW Food Authority website and download fact sheet here: http://bit.ly/1DHWMTj. For further information, please contact the Food Authority on 1300 552 406 or at contact@foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
|
|
Save the date!
Some important dates on the Northern Rivers Food Calendar for 2015
7-9 August
Good Food and Wine Show Sydney
30 October - 1 November
Good Food and Wine Show Brisbane
5 September
Sample Food Festival Bangalow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
