Eat, drink and be merry all year round

Eat Local Week champions to spruke products all year round to locals and visitors.

FOLLOWING the success of this year’s Eat Local Week, a new campaign has been launched which will allow locals and tourists to find, taste and buy our region’s delicacies all year round.

A number of food and wine champions from businesses right across the region will spruke their products to highlight the wide range of produce and experiences which make the Scenic Rim renowned across the state.

Accredited participants will display the Eat Local Scenic Rim logo on menus, in shopfronts, on farm gates and on websites and packaging, so visitors and locals can easily identify places to try and buy local produce.

The inaugural intake of Scenic Rim ‘locavores’ was announced at the launch of the new Eat Local Scenic Rim initiative on November 1 at Towri Sheep Cheeses.

Carolyn Davidson, along with her daughter Dallas, hosted the event. The inaugural ‘champions’ were in attendance and enjoyed platters of food and drink sourced directly from the Scenic Rim.

Regional visitors can also create their own Scenic Rim Food Trail, using the online portal, or they can download ready-to-go food, wine and beer itineraries created for the region.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen says the region’s reputation as a gourmet destination is building, and consumers are hungry to enjoy Scenic Rim produce beyond Eat Local Week. “The time was right to launch this next phase,” he said.

“South Australia has the Barossa Valley, Western Australia has the Margaret River, New South Wales has the Hunter Valley, Victoria has the Yarra Valley and Tasmania has the Tamar Valley - all great spots for a gourmet getaway and with a reputation for wonderful food and wine.

“The Scenic Rim has developed a strong reputation for producing wonderful food and wine, for gourmet getaways and for stunning scenery.

“It's now taking its rightful place alongside these other iconic destinations, and we have the added advantage of only being an hour away from Brisbane or the Gold Coast.”

The Scenic Rim is emerging as one of Queensland’s most exciting food and wine destinations and one of the most collaborative, with producers keen to work together to develop unique offerings, including beer chutney, carrot bread, camel milk vodka and sheep and cow’s milk stout.

To be eligible for endorsement, Eat Local Scenic Rim applicants had to meet criteria for their category, including regularly featuring and identifying Scenic Rim ingredients on menus, in their mini bar, or in their shop.

Accredited members will be encouraged to display the Eat Local Scenic Rim logo in their restaurant or shopfront windows, at the farm gate and even on packaging and their website.

They will also be invited to be involved in industry networking and development opportunities and be featured on a dedicated website, designed to make it easier for visitors and consumers to source local food and drinks.

The project was made possible with support from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund. Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport and Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz said the Eat Local Scenic Rim initiative is a fantastic way of showcasing local industry and talent.

“The Eat Local project was made possible by the Federal Government and includes an online platform featuring local producers and businesses,” he said.

“Visitors to this beautiful region can have some real and engaging experiences with the men and women who produce our vegetables, dairy products, olives, honey, wine, craft beer and coffee, all within the Scenic Rim area.”

Newly-accredited locavore, Carolyn Davidson, said she was delighted that her Towri Sheep Cheeses could be part of the initiative and was keen to contribute to further growth for the regional industry.

“It’s great to see this initiative get off the ground and link the dots between those of us in the industry, our local customers and potential visitors from further afield,” she said.

Log onto www.eatlocalweek.com.au.