"WE LOVE FOOD & DRINK, IT NOURISHES OUR FAMILIES, SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITIES & ENABLES OUR NOOSA FOOD & DRINK INDUSTRY TO GROW & PROSPER."
EAT LOCAL NOOSA EAT - DRINK - CONNECT
Noosa’s food and drink industry has joined forces with the digital sector to create a free online platform where locals can search and connect with Noosa businesses that are still operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eat Local Noosa is a virtual marketplace that offers access to local food and drink producers, as well as grocery stores and retailers offering heat-and-eat and takeaway or delivered meals. The marketplace has been designed to connect the Noosa community to local food and drink businesses who service the region & surrounds.
The Eat Local Noosa website is here to give take your taste buds on a regional ride! The one-stop-shop not only allows our producers and food and drink retailers to connect with the community but it also helps them connect with each other! Well done to all of our Snails who have already registered, but if you haven't checked it out yet you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL SNAILS THE BIG ROSELLA FESTIVAL GOES LIVE
A world pandemic wasn't going to stop our Woolooga Snails CC & Greg from CC's Kitchen & Petersen's Farm from hosting their annual Big Rosella Festival because this year, the go-getters are going viral taking their festival online over 3 full days from 2-4 May.
Originally scheduled for the Sunday 3 May – CC Diaz-Petersen from CC’s Kitchen said 2021 is too far away so they have decided to host the festival online – via the Big Rosella Festival Facebook page – where ‘festival goers’ can experience all things rosella without leaving home.
'We were really disappointed at the mere thought of cancelling the festival but after seeing how the world has embraced online even more than we have before – we thought why not hold a virtual festival,' said CC.
'We are thrilled to have a such a great line up of amazing local and Queensland chefs cooking some tasty rosella inspired dishes from the comfort of their own kitchens and farms.'
'We are also cooking up an attempt at the ‘World’s Largest Rosella Jam Making Class’ – where we’re inviting food lovers to join us in making their own batch of rosella jam.'
The festival will showcase local producers with virtual farm tours and online workshops. The all star line up includes online cooking demonstrations with Matt Golinski, James Barnden (Charlies Hotel Gympie), Jason Ford (South Burnet Food Ambassador), Chris White (Hungry Feel), Valarie Ferdinand (MKR 2017 Runner Up), Glen Barrat (Wild Canary) and Dan and Steph (MKR).
COMMUNITY SPIRIT SNAIL COLLABORATIONS
As some producers have been left feeling the affects of COVID-19 more than others with losses continuing to be reported across the region, it's not all doom and gloom because Dhom Chotipimai and Spencer Wilmott from Dhom's Kitchen in Cooroy are putting some positive back into the community with a collaboration with fellow Snail Bunya Grove Produce.
Dhom's Kitchen specialises in traditional Thai home cooking as well as some street food favourites and are committed to using as much local produce as possible which is how they came to use Bunya Grove Produce in many of their amazing Thai dishes. The Noosa Farmers Market has allowed them to establish valuable relationships with many local producers while also tending to their own established market garden to supply their restaurant with fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits.
Unfortunately, when the market price for Bunya Grove persimmons dropped to below their operating costs a couple of weeks into their 2020 harvest, they had no choice but to let the persimmons rot.
Fortunately Bunya Grove are quite diversified with their pork, chicken and eggs but it was their decision to give the pigs the excess persimmons that lead to the discovery that the flavour is amazing,' Spencer said.
'We are using Bunya Grove's excess persimmons to develop a range of products for our own business as well as for Bunya Grove in the Mary Valley.'
'COVID has caused quite a mess for some local producers with similar stories around the area so it would be great to see other producers forming collaborations to help each other out during these times on uncertainty.'
Watch this space for some new and exciting developments from Bunya Grove & Dhom's Kitchen!
SNAIL SPOTLIGHT
'We absolutely love growing organic food. It’s our passion & nothing makes us happier to be able to feed our community each week.'
When you join Good Harvest Organic Farm as a subscriber to their amazing fruit and veggie boxes, you become part of a revolution that not only takes care of the earth, but also the farmer and the consumer.
Mick Dan, founder and farmer at Good Harvest Organic Farm, works alongside his partner Kelly, daughter Alex, and the rest of the team as they aim to feed over 1000 families a week with organic produce from their farm at Woombye and other organic farms in the region.
Our farm uses completely chemical free farming practices but also we also work with a range of other local organic farms (certified and non certified) to bring their customers the cleanest freshest produce available each week.
They are guided by two distinct aims, one underpinning value and 16 operating principles
Empower the individual to make conscious decisions
Inspire passionate and dynamic communities of change
'We believe integrity is the essence of everything,' says Farmer Mick.
You can enjoy the spoils of their harvests by ordering a weekly or fortnightly organic farm box home delivered via their website.
Saturday
Kawana Farmers Market from 6am
(Sportsman Parade)
Marcoola Market from 8am
(Lorraine Ave)
Sunday
Noosa Farmers Market from 6am
(Weyba Downs Rd)
DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR A QUICK CHAT? WIN A KANDANGA FARM STORE HAMPER
Slow Food member & Snail, Amber Scott from Kandanga Farm Store is currently looking for participants for market research. Amber is investigating ways to help consumers find local produce and would like to talk to any Slow Food members who actively seek out local produce at home and when travelling. If you are willing Amber will arrange a time to call for an informal conversation of approximately 15-20 minutes.
As a thank you for your generous time, Amber has offered all participants the opportunity to enter a draw to win a $50 Kandanga Farm Store local organic produce hamper! The hamper will include Organic K2 Beef (from Amber and husband Tim’s own farm), local preserves, fresh greens and locally made body soap.
Living Smart has produced a FREE community recipe eBook 'Love your Leftovers' to help inspire and discover how to transform leftovers into quick tasty meals. A great way to make the most of your shopping budget and no one likes to see good food go to waste! The recipes have been shared by Sunshine Coast households and the fabulous team at 4 Ingredients.
FOOD & AGRIBUSINESS UPDATE
FAN is assisting businesses with innovative ideas including Front Line Sunshine Coast, the brains of Simon Michelangeli from Glasshouse Brewery and local charity Wishlist. The initiative brings together local hospitality and food and beverage businesses to support our local healthcare heroes. Simply order from one of the participating business and for each 'front line' offer you order, the business will donate a meal to a front line healthcare worker. This campaign is a practical way to say thank you, by providing a healthcare worker with a voucher for a free meal/offer with purchases from participating businesses. The campaign will also shine a spotlight on local food and drink businesses who are finding new ways to operate and employ staff in very difficult circumstances. To get involved and create an offer, register here.
FAN Connect is here! A Business to Business (B2B) platform, powered by Bizitize®. With a view to create an online business hub, FAN has been working closely with the Bizitize development team, Business Sunshine Coast and the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce in leading the Australian implementation of the B2B digital marketplace.
To alleviate financial stress during COVID, FAN have introduced a monthly payment option for all FAN memberships. When you receive your renewal notification contact member@foodagribusiness.org.au if you would like to pay monthly or if you would like more information about their range of services, get in touch.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this newsletter was correct at the time of distribution.
SOCIAL MEDIA PERMISSIONS
Photographs taken at our events may appear on the Slow Food Noosa Facebook page. Please advise the photographer at the event if you do not wish to appear on our social media pages.
