Scenic Rim reaps a bumper harvest from Eat Local Month

A toast to the success of Eat Local Month 2024

The Scenic Rim's second annual Eat Local Month has served up an even greater smorgasbord of economic and social benefits for the region as detailed in a report tabled at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting of Council. 

The report highlighted how Eat Local Month 2024 continued to build on the success of the first Scenic Rim Eat Local Month staged in 2023, with this landmark event having grown exponentially during the past 14 years from a modest week-long celebration of the region and its producers. 

Scenic Rim's Tourism and Events Portfolio Councillor Jennifer Sanders said that the analysis of Eat Local Month 2024 showed it had realised Council's vision for the event as Australia's most authentic paddock-to-plate food and farming experience as well as its social and economic objectives. 

"Celebrating the region's food and beverages, produce and farmers against the backdrop of the Scenic Rim's natural beauty and environment, this year's program was jam-packed with festivals, farm-gate events, hands-on and 'meet the maker' workshops and culinary experiences," she said. 

"More than 100 events were held throughout June 2024, attracting 12,993 visitors across all activations, with most participants coming from outside the region. 

"We saw a 20 per cent increase in the average overnight stay spending and a 29 per cent increase in spending by day trippers resulting in Eat Local Month contributing more than $1.72 million to our local economy, an increase of 49 per cent over the previous year. 

"With media coverage of the event reaching an estimated 4.8 million people, the value of the promotion of our region was around $3.9 million. 

"Additionally, 93 per cent of visitors surveyed said Eat Local Month added to the Scenic Rim's appeal and that locals should feel proud of this event." 

More than 60 per cent of the experiences included in the Eat Local Month 2024 program were presented for the first time. 

In a break from tradition, Eat Local Month's signature event, the Winter Harvest Festival, was relocated to Kalbar and expanded into a weekend-long celebration resulting in a 60 per cent increase in attendance. 

More than 90 local businesses took part in Scenic Rim Eat Local Month, which has achieved Significant Event status in Queensland, and planning is already well under way for Eat Local Month 2025.

Scenic Rim Eat Local Month is a key element of the region's Eat Local movement which was recently recognised with a Bronze Award for Excellence in Food Tourism at the 2024 Queensland Tourism Awards. 

"Scenic Rim Eat Local Month owes its success to the partnership between Council and the community and we gratefully acknowledge our region's farmers, makers and producers as well as event attendees who have contributed to another outstanding result this year," Cr Sanders said. 

"We also thank Tourism and Events Queensland for the Queensland Destination Events Program funding Eat Local Month has received since 2015, as well as our sponsors Moffatt Fresh Produce, Kalfresh Vegetables, Urban Utilities, the Community Bank Kalbar and District (Bendigo Bank), ABC Radio Brisbane, Queensland Hire, and Brisbane Economic Development Agency."