Capricorn Coast food tourism prospects strengthen
When creative and like-minds come together, they can turn ordinary into extraordinary…
And that’s exactly what happened last week at Yeppoon Town Hall, when 35 passionate and local agriculturists, restauranteurs and retailers gathered to network and discuss food tourism prospects.
The event, scheduled as a direct result of the Capricorn Coast Food Trail project (an Australian Government bushfire recovery initiative), enabled attendees to engage, be inspired and understand challenges when sourcing and distributing local produce.
Dietician, Chris Hughes from CQ Nutrition spoke to the nutritional benefits of consuming local produce, introducing the concepts of food mileage together with the impacts on the nutritional adequacy of our food. Chris also touched on the relationship between these nutrient losses and the chronic diseases most prevalent within our community.
High Valley Dawn’s Shae O’Reilly also addressed the attendees, sharing the warming story of the successful paddock to plate loop between the permaculture farm and Beaches Restaurant at Rosslyn Bay. Shae centred his presentation around the three permaculture principles of earth care, fair share and people care, enlightening guests to their positive practices, where sustainable farming is prioritised.
Following the presentations, attendees were given an opportunity to network and share their own business activities and discover ways that they could connect and work together into the future.
With food appealing first the eyes, restauranteurs and retailers had the opportunity to observe the agriculturists’ aesthetically displayed produce, before having the opportunity to tantalise their tastebuds with culinary delights from award winning restaurant, The Waterline, which featured an array of local produce including pineapples, macadamias, mangoes and lemons.
Capricorn Enterprise CEO, Mary Carroll was pleased to see so many in the room keen to support the development of community awareness of, and pride in local culinary cultures.
“This event progressed the development of a much larger project scope in the Capricorn Coast Food Trail, which will aim to showcase the wonderful selection of fresh produce across our destination,” Mary said.
“We are fortunate to have such immense local passion and knowledge in one community and as the increasing appetite for home-grown further develops, we hope to see the Capricorn Coast on the map as a culinary destination of choice.”
The joint event hosted by Capricorn Enterprise and Livingstone Shire Council was pleased to welcome Mayor Andy Ireland, who said Council is extremely proud to be part of facilitating this fantastic initiative that endeavours to highlight the large portion of fresh local produce within the Capricorn Coast.
“Livingstone Shire is abundant in high-quality produce across a wide variety of growers and this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase local product to not only visitors and tourists from outside the region, but to also bring together our region’s farmers, retailers and the hospitality industry,” Mayor Ireland said.
“We hope the Capricorn Coast Food Trail will build upon the regions current food tourism industry in developing community awareness of, and pride in, local culinary cultures.
“Council would like to thank the Commonwealth Government for their funding contribution towards this project, in response to the 2019 Cobraball bushfires.”
For more information or to formally be a part of the Capricorn Food Trail visit https://getinvolved.livingstone.qld.gov.au/