Call Goes Out for Inaugural Eat Local Scenic Rim Champions

Authentic local food champions will be able to harness a growing hunger for Scenic Rim food and drinks year-round through the new Eat Local Scenic Rim accreditation program.

Applications are now open for businesses in the food and beverage, agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors to engage in year-round promotional activities under the Eat Local Scenic Rim banner.

Approved businesses will be able to use the official Eat Local Scenic Rim branding in their shop windows, menus and marketing, and consumers will be able to clearly see where they can find, buy and taste truly local produce.

Eat Local Scenic Rim has been developed in consultation with local businesses following research into national and international trends and programs surrounding the local food movement.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said consumers were hungry for Scenic Rim produce beyond Eat Local Week.

"Agriculture is the biggest industry in the Scenic Rim, underpinning the region’s identity and, together with tourism, contributing $630 million to Gross Regional Product," he said.

"The facts speak for themselves. Good food, wine, local cuisine and produce rank in the top three factors for destination choice when people are choosing to travel, and we have good reason to believe they should choose the Scenic Rim if they want to satisfy their appetites.

"The local food movement has grown in size and popularity every year since the first Scenic Rim Eat Local Week in 2011, and the next logical step is to eat local every week.

"Through Eat Local Scenic Rim, we're encouraging and enabling locals and visitors alike to buy local food and drink all year round for the benefit of the community, the local economy and the consumers themselves."

Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz, said the new Eat Local Scenic Rim accreditation program is an excellent opportunity to promote our fantastic and vibrant region to the rest of the country.

“We live in a wonderful region growing, creating and making some of the best produce in Australia, from fresh produce like carrots in Kalbar, cheeses and dairy across the Scenic Rim and wine and craft beer in Tamborine Mountain, amongst so many others," he said.

“The Federal Coalition Government is proud to be a substantial partner through the Building Better Regions Fund, and I encourage all businesses in the Scenic Rim to consider partnering with Eat Local Scenic Rim.”

Mayor Christensen urged eligible businesses to apply.

"This is an opportunity for participating operators to help grow a genuine, ongoing local food movement in the Scenic Rim and beyond, which should ultimately serve to benefit their business," he said.

"Businesses can benefit from year-round promotional activities associated with the Eat Local Scenic Rim brand, get involved with industry networking and development opportunities and have a dedicated online presence to make it easier for visitors and consumers to find local Scenic Rim food and beverages."

To be eligible to become a proud partner of Eat Local Scenic Rim, businesses need to meet the criteria in at least one of eight categories: Producer; Farm Gate; Café/ Restaurant/ Pub; Accommodation; Experience; Retail; Specialty Maker/ Food Artisan; Brewer/ Distiller/ Winemaker.

Applications will close on 12 October 2018 and the first official Eat Local Scenic Rim locavores will be announced at a launch on 1 November 2018.

The program, an initiative of Scenic Rim Regional Council, is being delivered with support from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund.

Details and application forms: www.eatlocalscenicrim.com.au